The ANC is investigating whether the latest killings are linked to internal divisions in the party.

JOHANNESBURG - Another African National Congress (ANC) ward councillor in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has been shot and killed, while transporting children to school.

Police say Bongani Skhosana, who was a candidate in one of the wards in the Umuziwabantu Municipality on the lower south coast, was shot in front of the children.

This bring to twelve the number of ANC leaders killed in the province in the past two months.

Tensions have escalated during the ANC nomination process for candidates to contests the elections next month, with the party's supporters in some communities claiming candidates were imposed on them.

ANC KZN spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli says the ward where Skhosana was a candidate did not complain about him.

"There was never any incident of any kind; whether you talk about a public protest, or anybody unhappy about his nomination as the choice of the ANC mayor."

The police's Thulani Zwane says, "The motive for his killing is still unknown at this stage. We are appealing to anyone who might have information on the whereabouts of the suspect to come forward and give us information which could lead to the arrest of the suspect."

The provincial party is investigating whether the latest killings are linked to internal divisions in the party.