Catholic bishops in South Africa have warned against rising violence as next month's municipal elections approach.
Bishop Abel Gabuza, chair of the church's Justice and Peace Commission in South Africa, has called a day of "prayer for peace" next Wednesday across all political parties.
In a statement sent to the Catholic Information Service for Africa, he says peace in South Africa can never be taken for granted.
He calls for "responsibilitiy" and "political maturity" from all.
In the statement he writes: "The peace that we currently enjoy in our country should not be taken for granted. To maintain it, it requires the responsibility of all citizens and political maturity of our leaders, especially during the election period. The current levels of political violence do not reflect this sense of responsibility."
He called on politicians to show a "more visible leadership" around pre-election violence.
He said: "We are disappointed that our political leaders have not been visible and loud enough in their condemnation of the recent factional violence and political assassinations.
"They have not also been vigorous enough in disciplining their candidates and members who are involved in disrupting campaign rallies of other parties and in creating no-go zones."
He condemned those "who are mobilising the young people in our communities, especially the unemployed youth, to engage in pre-election violence.
He appealed to the young people not to allow themselves to be used by the politicians who, he said, "show signs that their primary interest is greed for power and government tenders."
He also called on all those eligible to use their vote, and to elect leaders who brave enough to speak out against the politics of greed and patronage.
Elections to South Africa's 278 municipalities take place every five years.
They are seen as an opportunity for the disadvantaged and deprived to attempt to gain more political control to improve their lives.
In the run-up this year, there have been protests over housing standards, schools and other issues of communal need, according to Municipal IQ which monitors the boroughs.
Kevin Allan, managing director of Municipal IQ, told Bloomberg that there is a perception that change can be achieved only through violence.
He said: "Violent protest action has mushroomed over the past few years and, unlike previous local elections, they are continuing unabated. The protests, most of which are for legitimate causes, are also easily hijacked by criminal elements, or by people with personal political agendas, and so can easily spin out of control."
