A municipal councillor in Durban was shot and killed outside his office near Mariannhill, according to multiple South African news outlets.
The victim, Sibusiso Khwela, served as the ANC ward councillor for Ward 17 in eThekwini, the municipality that governs Durban. Reports from eNCA and News24 confirm the shooting took place in the area outside his office, with eNCA stating the killing occurred on Thursday, 6 August 2026.
The eThekwini speaker, who was quoted by eNCA, said the suspect did not cover his face during the attack. The speaker’s comment suggests the killer was known or identifiable, though no name has been released in the reporting.
The ANC in eThekwini has expressed shock at the killing, according to SABC News. The party has not yet issued a detailed statement on the circumstances or possible motive.
The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), a South African police unit set up to investigate assassinations of politicians and activists, will handle the case, according to EWN. The task team’s involvement indicates authorities are treating the shooting as a political killing rather than an ordinary crime.
Khwela’s death adds to a pattern of violence targeting local officials in KwaZulu-Natal, a province that has seen repeated assassinations of councillors and party figures in recent years. The unmasked suspect and the targeted nature of the attack point to a possible contract killing, though investigators have not confirmed that.
The PKTT has not yet released any details about suspects or a possible motive. The next step will be for the task team to gather evidence and identify the gunman, with the eThekwini speaker’s comment likely to be a key lead.
