Post-1994 Elections and Political Revenge: An Analysis of the Impact of Political Killing in KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa

Description

Page: 320-325

Sihle Edmund Mpanza (Department of Public Administration, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa)

Over the past few years, political killings have become a recurring phenomenon in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. These killings have significantly impacted the region’s political landscape and people, rendering its political climate volatile and fraught with tension. This explores the impact these political killings have had in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). One of the province’s most significant consequences of political killings is the loss of human life. These senseless killings have resulted in the deaths of many individuals, including citizens who are not actively involved in politics. Hence creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity the province has never experienced. Families have lost their loved ones, with many communities thrown into mourning, leading to a loss of trust among people. This article discusses how political violence affected innocent people through the killings before and after the 2016 Local Government Elections (LGE) in KZN. The study employed a qualitative research method, thus engaging with published work on the impact of political killing in KwaZulu Natal. The author consulted E-books, Moerane commission documents, online news articles, and other internet sources. The political leaders and activists have expressed their grievances, especially when disgruntled about the election results or the selection of candidates. There are concerns that some political factions may not accept the outcomes.