As political parties ramp up campaigns ahead of the voter registration weekend, concerns are mounting over a spate of political killings following the deaths of two councillors in Cape Town and Gqeberha.
Political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast says the timing of the attacks is troubling and may point to the increasingly contested nature of local government politics.
"I for one think that there is a strong nexus between what happened yesterday and political killings because normally when it's the electoral cycle, we see a lot of these incidents because local government has always been seen as a centre of accumulation of mass wealth," Breakfast said.
"Local government has always been seen as a terrain that gives one access to economic resources.
"But also, people who tend to commit these acts normally want to convey a message to those who are competing with them to back off so that they can have access to the council and then use the local space for purposes of accumulation."
The comments come after Ward 27 councillor Sicelo Mleve was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen during a community meeting at a ward office in Zwide, Gqeberha.
According to police, two armed men stormed the meeting, where about 10 people were gathered, and ordered everyone to hand over their cellphones. One of the suspects then allegedly shot the 45-year-old councillor several times before the pair fled the scene on foot.
Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe has expressed shock and sadness at Mleve's death, describing the killing as a senseless act that has deprived the community of a committed public servant.
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects, although the motive for the attack remains unclear.
The killing has cast a shadow over the Electoral Commission's voter registration drive and renewed concerns about safety and political tensions at local government level.
In a separate incident in Cape Town, Sinovuyo Dyokwe was killed while returning home from this weekend's voter registration activities.
Dyokwe was the Democratic Alliance's candidate in the Ward 104 by-election in Dunoon earlier this year. The party paid tribute to her, describing her as a dedicated activist who played a key role in expanding the DA's support in the area.
During the March by-election, the DA doubled its share of the vote to 16 percent, a result the party partly attributed to Dyokwe's efforts.
The deaths of Mleve and Dyokwe have reignited concerns over political violence in South Africa, particularly during election periods when competition for local government positions intensifies.