CAPE TOWN — Build One South Africa (BOSA) has announced the tragic death of Leon Ngcikwe, a ward candidate for the party in Gugulethu, who was fatally shot on Saturday night.
Ngcikwe, 37, was serving as the party’s Ward 38 candidate in the Cape Town township. According to reports, he was gunned down on Saturday evening shortly after dropping off fellow party activists. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to his gunshot wounds.
The assassination has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, casting a dark shadow over the recent voter registration weekend and intensifying fears of escalating political violence ahead of the elections. Ngcikwe’s death occurred on the same bloody weekend that claimed the lives of two other local political figures: Sinovuyo Dyokwe, a Democratic Alliance (DA) ward candidate in Dunoon, and African National Congress (ANC) councillor Sicelo Mleve, who was killed in Gqeberha.
The alarming string of political killings has prompted the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to voice grave concerns over the surge in violence targeting ward councillors and candidates across the country.
In an official announcement, BOSA mourned the untimely passing of Ngcikwe, remembering him as a devoted public servant who was deeply invested in the wellbeing of his community.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the Ngcikwe family following the tragic loss of their son,” the party stated. “As an activist, he dedicated his voice and efforts to serving and uplifting others, leaving a lasting impact on his community.”
BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons described Ngcikwe as a “dedicated community leader and a committed activist who believed deeply in building a safer, more prosperous future for the people of his community.”
Solomons strongly condemned the murder, emphasizing that the country can no longer afford to normalize lawlessness and violent crime.
“Every day, communities across our country are torn apart by violent crime, leaving families shattered and neighbourhoods living in fear,” Solomons said. “Leon’s death is a painful reminder of the devastating human cost of a crime crisis that has been allowed to spiral out of control.”
The party has unequivocally condemned the senseless act of violence and called on law enforcement authorities to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Police in the Western Cape are expected to open a murder case as investigations into the circumstances and motives surrounding the shooting continue.