The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has issued an urgent call for stronger measures to curb political violence and killings following a bloody weekend that left four politically affiliated individuals dead across three provinces.

The attacks come as the country prepares for the 2026 local government elections, raising alarm bells over the safety of democratic processes.

The latest wave of violence struck communities in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng.

In Cape Town a by-election candidate was targeted and shot dead, in Gqeberha a ward councillor was gunned down, and in the West Rand two men affiliated with a political party were killed.

Salga has extended its condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in these attacks, condemning them as callous acts of violence and warning that these deadly incidents are not isolated occurrences but part of a deeply concerning, cyclical pattern of violence that historically intensifies around election periods.

Data from Salga’s Municipal Violence Incident Reporting system reveals hundreds of incidents, ranging from threats and intimidation to assassinations, recorded in the local government sphere from 2000 to date.

The organisation emphasises that political violence directly undermines the foundations of South Africa's democracy and discourages competent citizens from serving in public office, while it erodes the integrity of electoral processes.

In response to the escalating crisis, Salga is demanding that political killings be treated as priority crimes. The association called on law enforcement agencies to launch urgent, decisive probes into the weekend's assassinations to apprehend those behind them.

It also wants law enforcement to deploy heightened police presence and security forces in identified violence hotspots and fast-track cases through the courts.

Salga notes that the consequences for these crimes must be visible enough to send an “unequivocal message that violence has absolutely no place in democratic contestation”.

Beyond police intervention, Salga places a heavy responsibility on political organisations, candidates, and local communities to uphold the values of peaceful democratic contestation.

The association states that political parties must act decisively against internal intimidation, inflammatory conduct, and factional violence.

As the 2026 local government elections draw closer, Salga states it remains committed to working alongside the government, law enforcement agencies, and all relevant stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming polls and ensure the safety of both councillors and communities.