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South African govt to investigate soaring political violence

South Africa

In less than two months to municipal elections in South Africa, political tension and violence have taken the centre stage of events in the country.

The government has now come out to address the issue by setting up a special team of police to investigate the issues.

On Tuesday 8, a local African National Congress (ANC) leader was shot dead as he was coming out from a meeting in the province of KwaZulu Natal.

According to local media, more than 10 people have been shot dead in politically motivated killings over the past eight months ahead of the August 3 polls. Most of the shootings occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, with several cases reported in Mpumalanga.

#SouthAfrica saw 185 deaths due to political violence in 2015/16, according to this new tool https://t.co/wdmXcLS4wq pic.twitter.com/qoRxcGhTYe

— Nick Branson (@NHBranson) June 8, 2016

Nearly a dozen of political activists have been killed since the beginning of the year. The government is concerned and has this week announced the establishment of a task force to investigate and take the necessary measures to further avoid the violence.

Activists are now linking the violence to rivalry between the Zuma’s party ANC and the Malema-led Economic Freedom Fighters.

South Africa’s Kwa Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape are the worst hit regions.

South Africa’s electoral commission has warned that politicians’ failure to mute wild political promises and violent tendencies and to abide by the electoral code of conduct could destroy the country’s democratic achievements.

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