IFP Candidate James Mabaso Shot Dead at Home in Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal

• The Inkatha Freedom Party confirmed that James Mabaso, its PR list candidate, was found shot dead at his home in Emakhasana village
• Mabaso's killing marks the third IFP candidate to die in KwaZulu-Natal within the same month ahead of local government elections
• The IFP has called on the KZN Political Killings Task Team to investigate the series of fatal attacks on its candidates

KWAZULU-NATAL — The Inkatha Freedom Party has confirmed the killing of James Mabaso, one of its candidates for the upcoming local government elections, who was found shot dead at his home in Emakhasana village, Pomeroy, in the Msinga area of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The incident happened after another IFP councillor, Lucky Sokhela, was killed on 1 September 2026 in KwaSwayimani.

According to SABC News, Mabaso featured on the party's Proportional Representation list for the local government elections and served as the IFP Chairperson of the Gordon branch under Ward 18 in Msinga. According to SABC News, law enforcement has not yet determined a motive for the attack at his residence.

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Third IFP candidate killed in KZN this month

Mabaso's death is the third in a string of fatal shootings targeting IFP candidates within the province in a single month. Last week, two separate incidents claimed the lives of ward councillor candidates in different municipalities. Lucky Sokhela was shot outside his home in uMshwathi, while Khethelo Mdluli died from gunshot wounds he sustained at his residence in oPhindweni, in the uMlalazi local municipality area.

View a post about the killing on Facebook:

IFP and EFF respond to election violence

In the wake of the three killings, the IFP formally requested the deployment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team to investigate the deaths. The Economic Freedom Fighters in the province also condemned the violence, calling on police to thoroughly investigate the incidents and guarantee the safety of all candidates participating in the elections.

IFP demands intervention after councillor killed

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the tragic deaths of two Inkatha Freedom Party councillor candidates, Khethelo Mdluli and Lucky Sokhela, who were shot outside their homes in KwaZulu-Natal within a week of each other. This alarming trend of political violence raises serious concerns about the safety of candidates and the integrity of the upcoming Local Government Elections.

Source: Briefly News