Six councillors killed, years of instability and growing fears over the safety of those seeking public office have gripped the community of Crossroads in Cape Town. Ahead of the November 4 local government elections, Ward 36 in Crossroads is once again under scrutiny following the killing of a proportional representation (PR) councillor Lazola Gungxe.
Candidates, community leaders and election observers say violence remains a concern in a community that has repeatedly lost public representatives to deadly attacks. African National Congress (ANC) Councillor candidate, Phillip Mgangxela, says serving the community should not come at the cost of one’s life.
“I’m very concerned because the killings have sparked a lot of fear amongst candidates. Even when you wake up, you are not sure what’s going to happen to you. Even when you have to attend meeting, you don’t know what’s gonna happen to you because of some of previous deadly incidents. Charles Khan was not even a councillor yet but a candidate like me but he was also gunned down. I’ve also got that fear, but as a politician you cannot just leave everything saying that in our ward we cannot have a councillor because people are being killed. That is why I‘m gonna continue to stand but my appeal to the Western Cape government to provide security for us so that we are able to service the community.”
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