MK Party Regional Organiser Fatally Shot in KwaZulu-Natal During Election Preparations

Tragic Killing Rocks MK Party on Eve of Elections

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is mourning the loss of regional organiser Lastborn Shazi, who was shot and killed at his home in Umzumbe, KwaZulu-Natal. The incident occurred on Monday night while Shazi was engaged in a virtual meeting aimed at preparing for the upcoming local government elections.

Unfolding Events at Shazi’s Homestead

Reports indicate that Shazi was actively participating in an online meeting with his regional team when he suddenly stopped contributing. According to the party’s provincial spokesperson, Mkhuseli Mlangana, it was shortly after 9pm that news of a shooting at Shazi’s homestead reached party leaders. Members present in the virtual meeting were informed of the tragedy by a phone call, leading to the confirmation that Shazi had died at the scene.

No Leads as Police Investigation Begins

The circumstances surrounding Shazi’s death remain unclear. Both MK Party officials and law enforcement are urging the public to refrain from speculation while investigations continue. “We would like to send our condolences to the family of Comrade Lastborn. As of now, there are no details that we know as far as the circumstances around the killing of Comrade Lastborn. And we are trying to avoid speculation,” said Mlangana in a statement to the public broadcaster.

The party emphasised KwaZulu-Natal’s long and traumatic history with political killings, highlighting the importance of letting police handle the matter without interference or conjecture. “We don’t want to fuel anything with speculation. As and when we receive information as to what really transpired, we’ll then communicate in accordance with that,” Mlangana added.

Context: Electoral Tensions and Special Voting

The killing casts a sobering shadow over the local electoral process, as it coincides with the start of special voting. Millions of South Africans are heading to the polls this week to cast their votes in the 2026 local government elections.

On Monday and Tuesday, 2,655,067 voters have been approved for special votes. This figure includes individuals who are unable to physically reach voting stations, either due to disability or other circumstances that will keep them away from their registered wards on the main election day.

• 678,525 of those special voters are set to receive home visits for their ballots.
• 1,976,542 will cast special votes at their regular voting stations.

Among the provinces, Gauteng leads with 480,721 approved special voters, followed by the Eastern Cape with 401,971 and KwaZulu-Natal with 348,971. The broader election is set to take place on Wednesday, with an anticipated 29.2 million registered voters expected to participate across South Africa.

The Broader Significance

This tragedy underscores the often tense atmosphere that can accompany political events in regions with a history of violence. Security protocols and peaceful participation remain high priorities for political parties and authorities as election day approaches. While investigations are underway and details remain scarce, the focus remains on supporting Shazi’s family, upholding transparency, and ensuring voters are able to participate safely and without fear.

As with any unfolding investigation, new details are expected to emerge. For now, both party officials and law enforcement stress the importance of avoiding speculation and allowing proper procedures to run their course.