Opposition party organiser killed before South Africa elections

Lastborn Shazi, identified by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) as one of its organisers, was shot dead at home in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday night while coordinating the party’s election campaign on a Zoom call. Police have opened a murder investigation and are probing the motive. Authorities recorded 20 killings involving political representatives, party members and supporters during the municipal election period, and more than 500 soldiers have been deployed to the province, where 165 polling stations are considered high-risk. Wednesday’s vote is expected to be closely contested in the eThekwini metropolitan area, where polls project the MKP could displace the ANC as the largest party.