Political assassinations are rife in certain parts of South Africa.

In fact, just before this year’s local elections, the Code for South Africa Data Journalism Academy released an interactive map on the all the politically-motivated killings that had happened between the 6 October 2015 and 26 July 2016 – at least a dozen being ward candidates in KZN.

Check that HERE.

Now, the DA has confirmed that councillor Johannes Baaitjie had received death threats following his win in Danielskuil in the Northern Cape.

The province’s provincial leader, Andrew Louw, said in a statement that Baaitjies was to have been sworn into council earlier yesterday.

Yet, the man was found dead on “the main road between Danielskuil and Postmasburg on Wednesday night with two bullet wounds to the head and another to his upper body,” according to News24.

It has been described as a “cold-blooded assassination.” Louw continued:

It is suspected that his murder was politically motivated, as Baaitjies received death threats shortly after winning Ward 2 successfully wrestling it away from the ANC.

The party vehemently denounces any kind of prejudice and criminal activity based on political affiliation.

The DA will not allow cowardly acts committed by faceless thugs to derail us from our efforts to govern in order to stamp out corruption, create jobs and deliver services to bring the change that moves South Africa forward again.

Two councillors from both the DA and the Kgatelopele Community Forum (KCF) were to form a coalition, taking control from the ANC. However, the council is now officially a hung council.

Constituency head Boitumelo Babuseng said Baaitjies knew he was in danger:

He told me as a constituency head last week in Afrikaans: ‘Die mense will my dood maak [These people want to kill me.]’

When I pressed Baaitjies on the nature of the threats, he replied: ‘Die mense van die ANC [These people of the ANC].’

And there’s pretty much nothing you can do about it…

[source:news24]