A United Democratic Movement (UDM) councillor and former deputy mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay was shot dead in Motherwell, Gqeberha, on Saturday afternoon, just three days after South Africans voted in the 2026 local government elections. Luxolo Namette was killed on 7 November, and police have opened a murder case, Inside Politics reported on 8 November.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said a man's body was found in Umnulu Street, NU9, Motherwell, at about 3.50pm on Saturday, with a gunshot wound to the head. A murder case has been opened and is being investigated by SAPS Motherwell. Police said the suspects and the motive remain under investigation, and further details would follow as the investigation progresses.

Namette served as a UDM proportional representation councillor in Nelson Mandela Bay, chaired the Municipal Public Accounts Committee and had served as deputy mayor during coalition leadership periods. He was also the party's mayoral candidate for the metro in the elections held on Wednesday 4 November.

The UDM said it was deeply concerned the killing may have been politically motivated, while stressing it did not wish to prejudge the outcome of the investigation. Secretary-general Bulelani Bobotyane said the party would refer the matter to the police's Political Killings Task Team and request that it receive specialised attention. Police said before the polls that they had recorded 20 murders involving political representatives, party members and supporters across six provinces during the election period. The UDM won about 2.41 per cent of the vote in Nelson Mandela Bay, earning three seats on the metropolitan council.