South African Communist Party

SACP statement on the brutal assassination of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader Zweli “Khabazela” Mkhize

Monday, 16 February 2026:- The South African Communist Party (SACP) hereby conveys its utter shock and outrage at the assassination of Comrade Zweli “Khabazela” Mkhize, the Treasurer of the eNkanini branch of Abahlali baseMjondolo, who was gunned down on the evening of Thursday, 12 February 2026, in eNkanini, Ellendale, Gauteng.

The SACP conveys its heartfelt message of condolences to Comrade Mkhize’s family, his organisation Abahlali baseMjondolo as well as the working class and poor, whom he served selflessly, for the terrible loss.

The Communist Party has, over time, worked with different community organisations of the working class, including Abahlali baseMjondolo, in common working-class struggles, especially on the important question of public housing. In that experience the Party has built and continues to build a relationship of solidarity with the working class in this particular sector.

Landless people and shack dwellers have historically been targeted by political gangs with economic and political interests in housing and as a result we have seen numerous assassinations of those at the forefront in this struggle. We believe that this assassination belongs in the same category.

We therefore condemn this callous act of violence. We call for law enforcement to intervene and for the government to treat this as the political killing that it is and its systematic nature be treated accordingly.

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ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA