South Africa continues to grapple with a troubling trend of violence targeting municipal officials and councillors, with a significant number of murders recorded across provinces over the past five financial years. According to official data, 37 municipal officials and 59 councillors were murdered during this period, reflecting a concerning threat to local governance and public administration.
Murdered Municipal Officials (2019/20 – 2023/24)
A total of 37 municipal officials were killed, with the distribution across provinces as follows:
| Province | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Cape | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Free State | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Gauteng | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 17 |
| Limpopo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mpumalanga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| North West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Cape | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Western Cape | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 3 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 37 |
KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the epicentre of these killings, with 17 incidents, highlighting its status as a hotspot for violence against local government officials.
Murdered Municipal Councillors (2019/20 – 2023/24)
The number of councillors murdered during the same period reached 59, with the following provincial breakdown:
| Province | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Cape | 5 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 19 |
| Free State | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Gauteng | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 21 |
| Limpopo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Mpumalanga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| North West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Northern Cape | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Western Cape | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 12 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 11 | 59 |
KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape reported the highest numbers, with 21 and 19 councillor murders, respectively, underscoring the entrenched risks in these regions.
The murders of municipal officials and councillors not only destabilise local governance but further erode public trust in democratic institutions. The persistent violence demands urgent intervention by law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and policymakers to ensure the safety of public servants who are essential to service delivery and governance at the grassroots level.
As the numbers continue to rise, the spotlight remains on creating effective strategies to combat the violence and protect those dedicated to serving their communities.
