The South African Communist Party (SACP) said over the weekend that its councillor candidate for Ward 10 in the Mbhashe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape had been killed at his home. Mbhashe is to the east of Mthatha.

“The SACP has suffered a serious blow following the brutal assassination of Comrade Ernest Fipaza, our councillor candidate for Ward 10 in...Mbhashe,” the party said in a statement issued by its general secretary, Solly Mapaila, for its Red October rally.

“He was at home with his family yesterday when disguised assassins entered the family home and shot him after demanding a firearm, which he did not have.

“Our SACP Provincial Secretary in the Eastern Cape, accompanied by a delegation of at least 100 party comrades and community members, is at the family home to visit as part of our support,” the statement said.

The SACP said that a number of other party members had received threats in the province and would be reporting these to the police.

“Over and above having reported these to the police, we will notify the Independent [sic] Electoral Commission, because these acts are rendering the elections in the affected areas unfree and unfair, as others use assassinations and threats to pave the way for the candidates they back to win. This is unacceptable.”