ANC (African National Congress) head of Western Cape Elections, Cameron Dugmore, has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of urinating on the lives of people killed during the country's civil unrest in July. There was more than a week of civil unrest after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed for contempt of court. This week the DA put up election posters in Phoenix saying "The ANC called you racists. The DA calls you heroes."

In Phoenix, an Indian township in the province of Kwazulu-Natal, several people of Indian descent are currently facing charges of murder for allegedly killing black South Africans who were allegedly not part of the unrest but simply passing through the township. The event has become known as the "Phoenix Massacre". About 30 black South Africans were allegedly hunted down and killed by members of the Phoenix community.

The posters caused outrage on social media. DA party leader, John Steenhuisen, defended the posters and said more would be put up. The party later reversed its decision, and announced the posters would be taken down. Dean Macpherson, the DA's provincial chairperson in Kwazulu-Natal then released a statement saying neither the party nor Steenhuisen had sanctioned the posters.