Abahlali baseMjondolo, a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa, has warned of escalating political violence and intolerance ahead of the elections. In a press statement issued on October 25, 2026, the organization claimed that the situation in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal was already volatile, with violence spreading to other parts of the country. The movement reported 43 people had been killed as election-related tensions intensified.
The organization described the killings as a serious threat to democracy, arguing that everyone should be able to campaign freely without fear of intimidation or violence. Abahlali baseMjondolo expressed concern that activists could increasingly become targets as political competition intensified. The movement warned that political assassinations and violence were unlikely to end with the elections.
Abahlali baseMjondolo also raised concerns about armed groups allegedly operating alongside police in KwaZulu-Natal. The organization claimed that people had been forced from their homes and livelihoods, assaulted and killed. It further condemned the rise of far-right and xenophobic organisations.
While acknowledging the importance of elections, Abahlali baseMjondolo argued that voting alone would not resolve the longstanding challenges facing poor communities. The organization criticized political parties for allegedly using food, T-shirts and campaign promises to win support before abandoning communities once elections were over.
According to Abahlali baseMjondolo, decades of democratic elections had failed to deliver meaningful change for many impoverished residents, whose dignity and living conditions remained compromised. The organization said it had resolved to encourage its members and supporters to vote according to their conscience, if they chose to participate.
Abahlali baseMjondolo urged voters not to support those who had allegedly betrayed poor communities or fuelled political intolerance. The organization called on communities to resist attempts to divide them along political and ethnic lines, emphasising the importance of grassroots organising and collective action.
The movement warned that the situation could deteriorate further after the elections, with political intolerance and violence potentially becoming more entrenched. It called on people across the country to work together to build a culture of peace and a fairer society in which everyone’s dignity is respected.
Key points
- Abahlali baseMjondolo reports 43 people killed as election-related tensions intensify in South Africa.
- The organization warns that political assassinations and violence are unlikely to end with the elections.
- Abahlali baseMjondolo criticizes political parties for allegedly abandoning communities after elections.
