CAPE TOWN — Political violence in Cape Town has sparked urgent concerns ahead of the municipal elections following the fatal shooting of Build One South Africa (BOSA) candidate Leon Ngcikwe. Ngcikwe was gunned down in Gugulethu on Saturday evening, marking a deadly escalation during the first voter registration weekend that also saw three other political candidates killed across the city.
The fatal shooting occurred as the first day of voter registration was drawing to a close. According to a family representative, Ngcikwe had spent the entire day registering voters at a local voting station. After returning home to drop off his seven-year-old daughter, he left to drop off fellow party comrades. When he failed to return, the family received a knock at the door informing them he had been shot. A 21-year-old passenger in his vehicle was also injured in the attack and remains hospitalized.
Remembered as a deeply committed community servant, Ngcikwe was an active member of the local neighborhood watch and heavily involved in civic initiatives. A family spokesperson described him as a hands-on family man who deeply loved his wife and children, emphasizing his broad dedication to the community beyond his political aspirations.
A spokesperson for Build One South Africa mourned the death, stating that Ngcikwe was exactly the kind of dedicated leader the country needs. “He was someone that served his community and was dedicated to it,” the BOSA spokesperson said, noting that his death represents a profound loss not just for the party, but for the entire community. The spokesperson echoed widespread concerns regarding political killings, stressing the absolute necessity to “speak up and fight and work against this election being violent.”
Ngcikwe’s death is part of a broader wave of political violence that claimed the lives of three other political figures in Cape Town on Saturday evening. In a separate incident in the Dunoon area, another Democratic Alliance (DA) political figure named Sinovuyo Dyokwe was gunned down multiple times. Reflecting on the tragedy, a party representative expressed disbelief at the state of the democracy, noting the horror of young, ambitious people with bright futures being “slaughtered” simply for putting themselves forward to serve as councillors.
While police continue to investigate the specific motives behind these targeted killings, the Western Cape Violent Crimes Unit has been officially tasked with probing the incidents. As the investigation unfolds, authorities and political parties alike are bracing for what could be a deeper escalation of political violence as the municipal elections approach.
