Another ANC candidate murdered in run-up to local elections

A candidate for South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) running for Walmer Township councillor in Port Elizabeth has been murdered, police said on Wednesday.

Nceba Dywili was gunned down in a hail of bullets on Tuesday night, police spokesperson Mncedi Mbombo said.

Dywili, 40, was shot and killed by two unknown gunmen while he was dropping a lady at her house, Mbombo said.

The motive for his killing remained unkown, said Mbombo.

Dywili was the latest victim of political violence in relation with the elections.

A number of politicians have been killed in the run-up to the elections, scheduled for August 3.

Most of the killings took place in KwaZulu-Natal Province, a stronghold of the ANC.

The South African government has voiced grave concern over the killings of South Africans who have been nominated by their parties as candidates for the elections.

"Government calls on all parties particularly in KwaZulu-Natal to ensure that the killings come to a stop and to cooperate with the political and law enforcement structures in place in the province and who are already hard at work to root out this evil," said Des Van Rooyen, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

The government calls on all political parties and independent candidates to uphold the Electoral Code of Conduct, Van Rooyen said.

The government has pledged that it will continue to ensure that the local government elections environment is free, fair and peaceful. Endit