Sicelo Mleve, an ANC ward councillor for Ward 27 in Nelson Mandela Bay, was shot and killed by unknown assailants on the evening of June 20, 2026. The incident occurred at his ward office in Zwide, Gqeberha, during a community meeting attended by approximately 10 people.
Investigation And Police Response
Police have launched a widespread manhunt for two male suspects who entered the office and held those present at gunpoint. Before fatally shooting Mleve, the assailants reportedly demanded that attendees hand over their mobile phones.
Although Mleve had previously secured municipal protection services following threats to his life in 2024, the councillor had relinquished these services by the time of the attack. Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe expressed her condolences to the family and the community.
Councillor Sicelo Mleve was dedicated to serving his community. We are really in a state of shock and appeal for the law to take its course.
Broader Community Impact And Political Context
The murder of the ANC official follows a trend of violence against public representatives in the region. Mleve is the third councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area to be killed during the current administrative term, following the murders of Ward 20 councillor Mzwandile Booi and Ward 43 councillor Andile Andries in 2022.
The killing transpired during a tense period for South African politics as the country prepares for local government elections scheduled for November 4, 2026. Similar violence has been reported nationally, including the recent killing of a Democratic Alliance candidate in Cape Town, heightening safety concerns for local political figures. The ANC has formally stated that Mleve’s death is a significant loss, depriving the movement and local residents of a representative committed to their interests. Police investigations remain ongoing as authorities seek to identify the perpetrators and establish a motive for the attack.