UMGABABA, KwaZulu-Natal — Two African National Congress (ANC) members were shot dead and others wounded during a door-to-door election campaign in Umgababa, marking a deadly escalation in political violence ahead of the local government elections. The fatal ambush, which claimed the lives of Ward 98 coordinator Lungani Makhathini and a female volunteer, has prompted a massive police manhunt and forced the party to reassess its grassroots security.
The tragedy unfolded this afternoon as the volunteers walked through a pedestrian passage in Ward 98. According to KwaZulu-Natal provincial police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda, the group—comprising two female volunteers, one male volunteer, and two bodyguards—was approached from behind by a white Isuzu bakkie.
“The occupants of the bakkie reportedly opened fire on the five using rifles and pistols,” Netshiunda stated.
The assailants fled the scene, firing indiscriminately. Two victims, a man and a woman, were declared dead at the scene. Another woman sustained a leg injury while fleeing the assassins, and the two bodyguards escaped the area and have not yet been located. Police have officially opened two counts of murder and three of attempted murder. While the exact motive remains under investigation, authorities note that political intolerance cannot be ruled out.
The deceased male volunteer has been identified as Lungani Makhathini, the ANC’s Ward 98 election coordinator. His family is reeling from the sudden loss. His brother, Sihle Makhathini, described Lungani as a devoted family man and a pillar of support for both his relatives and the broader Umgababa community.
“He was a family man. He would mention his wife Kate. He was a supporter at the home,” Sihle Makhathini shared, emphasizing his brother’s humility and willingness to help anyone in need. “He did a lot in this community. He was such a humble person. If you needed help, he would help you. We are quite saddened and devastated by this, I won’t lie. We are broken. We are very broken, but may my brother’s soul rest in peace.”
In the wake of the shooting, the ANC in the eThekwini region announced it will immediately strengthen security measures for its volunteers. ANC eThekwini Regional Convenor Thabani Nyawose, speaking at the scene, highlighted the growing danger facing party members.
“You remember that a few months back we lost councillor Khwela in Klaarwater in Ward 17. We are losing our volunteers in the middle of the campaign,” Nyawose said. He noted that with the campaign at its peak, such violence “will cause fear and discouragement” among the ranks. “As ANC, we now have to plan our campaign. When we are planning our campaign, we have to include issues of security and follow our volunteers to be safe.”
The local Municipal Speaker and ANC Chairperson echoed the shock, confirming that the volunteers were caught completely off guard while carrying campaign materials. The local leadership maintained that they were unaware of any prior threats or friction with other political parties coexisting in the area.
“We are freely campaigning in all 12 wards with no threat,” the Chairperson asserted, adding that the party remains confident in its grassroots efforts despite the tragedy. “We are hard at work, and we are confident that the campaign we have run in all 12 wards means the ANC will win.”
This devastating incident adds to a troubling pattern of political assassinations in the province. The ANC is currently fighting a difficult battle against internal infighting and the alarming loss of members to political violence. As police continue their search for the suspects and the white Isuzu bakkie, grieving ANC members and community residents gathered at the blood-stained pedestrian passage, mourning the loss of two dedicated public servants who died while trying to connect with the very community they served.
