# At least 43 people were killed in politically-motivated attacks in the first nine months of 2026, ahead of local government elections. That’s according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Senior adviser Julian Rademeyer says another 10 people were killed in October alone. He warns the killings have a corrosive impact on democracy, driven by battles for council control, contracts and appointments. He says attacks were recorded in seven provinces, with 16 incidents in KwaZulu-Natal and 10 in Gauteng.
Expert warns of high-risk period for political assassinations