The Electoral Commission of South Africa says it is working with police and other security agencies to strengthen election safety after suspected political killings.

The commission has described the attacks as a blow to democracy as political parties intensify campaigning ahead of the November 2026 local government elections.

The killings happened around the weekend voter registration drive, the only national registration period before the polls.

IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo condemned the violence and said the commission would continue working with law enforcement to protect voters, staff and electoral infrastructure.

Parties hit by killings

Gauteng police have launched a manhunt after two uMkhonto weSizwe Party members were shot dead in Bekkersdal on the West Rand.

In a separate incident, Democratic Alliance by-election candidate Sinovuyo Dyokwe was killed in Cape Town.

African National Congress ward councillor Sicelo Mleve was also gunned down in Gqeberha.

The IEC said the attacks came at a critical time for the country’s electoral process.

The commission is preparing for local government elections while also managing voter registration and party campaign activity across the country.

Security plans to be strengthened

Mamabolo said the IEC is part of the national structures that plan election security.

“We are an active member of the priority committee, which is a subcommittee of NATJOINTS that plans election security, together with law enforcement agencies,” he said.

He said the commission would now need to strengthen its operational plans in response to the violence.

“We will have to fortify our operational plans,” Mamabolo said.

NATJOINTS is the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which coordinates security planning across agencies.

Registration weekend under review

The voter registration weekend was a key step ahead of the November municipal elections.

The IEC is expected to brief the media on Monday afternoon on the outcomes of the registration drive.

The commission’s focus is now on ensuring that political violence does not undermine the electoral process.

For voters, the message is clear: election safety will be under sharper focus as campaigning intensifies.

For parties and candidates, the killings have raised urgent questions about security on the ground as South Africa moves closer to the polls.