{
  "id": 5525220,
  "title": "‘Political differences must never be settled through violence’: Another IFP councillor candidate dies in KZN",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/political-differences-must-never-be-settled-through-violence-another",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T08:35:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/elections/political-differences-must-never-be-settled-through-violence-another-ifp-councillor-candidate-dies-in-kzn/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Councillor Khethelo Mdluli, a candidate for King Cetshwayo District, passed away in a hospital on Monday after being shot outside his residence a week prior. This brings to light another tragic incident as party member Lucky Sokhela, a councillor candidate from uMshwathi Local Municipality, was also killed following a shooting outside his home on Tuesday. IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa expressed his concern, stating that the murder of two political candidates within a week is an alarming occurrence that necessitates immediate action from law enforcement. This comes after IFP volunteers faced brutal assault while setting up campaign posters in KwaNyuswa, KwaZulu-Natal, according to IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa. Hlengwa emphasized that political violence, intimidation, and assassination have no place in a constitutional democracy, and that political differences must never be settled through violence, threats, or murder. He called for the deployment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Task Team to investigate the circumstances surrounding these killings, identify the perpetrators, and determine whether political motives played a role. Hlengwa stressed that these attacks violate the fundamental right of South Africans to participate freely and safely in political life, and urged law-enforcement agencies to treat these cases with the utmost priority and ensure accountability. The IFP further called for a political culture where parties can compete based on ideas, policies, and programs without resorting to violence or personal hostility.",
  "summary": "Two councillor candidates for the IFP have been killed in the last week.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}