MEDIA STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: 20 AUGUST 2026

A BALLOT MUST NEVER HAVE TO COMPETE WITH A BULLET

South Africa cannot continue counting bodies while calling it democracy.

The People’s Movement for Change issues an uncompromising call to National Government, the Minister of Police, SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority and every institution entrusted with protecting our constitutional democracy:

ENOUGH

South Africa cannot continue burying politicians, councillors, candidates, activists and community leaders while the State responds with condolences, task teams, investigations and promises after another body has already fallen.

We refuse to normalise this.

We refuse to accept political violence as an occupational hazard of public service.

And we refuse to live in a country where a person must apparently first be assassinated before the threats surrounding political participation are treated with the seriousness they deserve.

The brutal murder of Councillor Aubrey Ndoda Tsengwa has once again confronted this country with an unbearable reality.

Police have not yet established the motive for his murder, and PMC will not speculate or interfere with that investigation, but Aubrey’s killing occurs against a national backdrop that can no longer be ignored.

South Africa is approaching an election while political representatives and activists are being murdered.

This is no longer a warning sign, the warning signs have been screaming at us.

When someone threatens to shoot a politician, investigate it.

When intimidation escalates, intervene.

When repeated threats are reported, connect the dots.

When there is evidence of stalking, organised intimidation or preparation for violence, act.

Do not wait for the gunshot, but a State that only becomes effective after the funeral has failed at prevention.

PMC therefore calls for the urgent establishment of a NATIONAL POLITICAL THREAT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROTOCOL, operating alongside existing political-killings investigations.

We demand:

1. Mandatory threat assessments when councillors, candidates, political activists or public representatives report credible threats of death or serious violence.

2. A national political-threat intelligence register capable of identifying repeat offenders, linked threats, organised intimidation and patterns across municipal and provincial boundaries.

3. Specialised investigation and prosecutorial escalation for credible threats involving assassination, firearms, stalking, organised intimidation or incitement to violence.

4. Senior review before serious political-threat investigations are closed, particularly where there is a documented pattern of intimidation.

5. A dedicated pre-election political violence prevention mechanism bringing SAPS, Crime Intelligence, the NPA and relevant security structures together to identify threats before they become murders.

6. Regular public accountability to Parliament on political murders, attempted assassinations, serious threats, arrests, prosecutions and convictions.

And let us be absolutely clear:

Political violence does not become serious when someone dies, it became serious when the threat was made, it became serious when intimidation started, it became serious when somebody began believing that a gun could decide what voters should decide at the ballot box.

No democracy worthy of that name can tolerate bullets becoming an alternative electoral system.

A ballot must never have to compete with a bullet.

Political representatives must be able to campaign, expose wrongdoing, challenge power, contest elections and serve communities without wondering whether today’s disagreement becomes tomorrow’s assassination.

We therefore put National Government on notice:

Stop managing political killings and start preventing them.

We do not need another carefully worded statement after another councillor is murdered.

We do not need another photograph of officials standing solemnly beside another grieving family.

We do not need another promise that “no stone will be left unturned.”

Turn the stones while people are still alive.

Find the networks.

Follow the money.

Investigate the threats.

Protect those genuinely at risk.

Prosecute those who cross the line.

And dismantle the culture in which intimidation and assassination are allowed to become instruments of political power.

Today this is also deeply personal, Aubrey was not a statistic, he was a human being, he was a public representative, he was a community servant and to those of us privileged enough to know him personally, he was a friend.

We mourn him, we stand with his family, loved ones, colleagues and community and we demand that those responsible for his murder are hunted down through the full force of lawful investigation and brought before a court of law.

Rest in peace, Aubrey Ndoda Tsengwa.

May your family find strength in an unimaginable hour.

And may South Africa finally understand:

WE CANNOT KEEP WAITING FOR THE BODY BEFORE WE BELIEVE THE THREAT.

Enough bodies

Enough funerals

Enough excuses

ACT BEFORE THE BULLET

Issued by:

Anco Barker

National Head of Communications

People’s Movement for Change (PMC)