Sicelo Mleve, a 45-year-old [1] ANC ward councillor, was shot and killed during a meeting at his office in Gqeberha on Saturday evening [1].
The killing occurred during the first day of the country's voter registration weekend, raising concerns about political violence during a critical electoral window.
Mleve was shot at the Zwide ward office in Nelson Mandela Bay [1]. The attack took place while he was attending a meeting at the facility [1]. Local police have launched an investigation into the incident, though they have not yet disclosed a specific motive for the killing [1].
This incident happened in close proximity to another political attack. A Democratic Alliance candidate in Cape Town was shot approximately 50 minutes [2] after the killing of Mleve [2].
Authorities are hunting for suspects involved in the murders of both the ANC and DA representatives [2]. The timing of these attacks, occurring within an hour of each other and during a registration period, has drawn scrutiny toward the security of political officials in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces.
Police officials said they are continuing to gather evidence from the Zwide ward office to identify the perpetrators [1].
“Sicelo Mleve, a 45-year-old ANC ward councillor, was fatally shot during a meeting at his office”
The near-simultaneous targeting of officials from two opposing political parties—the ANC and the DA—suggests a volatile security environment during the voter registration process. When political violence coincides with electoral milestones, it can potentially suppress voter turnout or intimidate candidates and officials from participating in democratic exercises.
