Every South African whose mind has not been corrupted must be revolted by the killings of ANC councillors-elect in KwaZulu-Natal.

Those murdered were human beings before they were ANC members. Even if they had been IFP or DA members, we would mourn their loss as human beings.

They must never be treated like cold statistics. These were flesh and blood fathers and mothers of children, who are now orphans.

The murders are clearly intraparty. How could we not view them as such when it is largely ANC members who are getting killed?

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It is interesting that no one has accused IFP or EFF members of murder. Most fingers point in the direction of comrade against comrade in the ANC.

Indeed, police must be given time and space to investigate the killings, but that should not stop society from reflecting on the possible causes and implications of the dastardly deeds.

The pattern is clear: ANC councillors-elect are being taken out one by one.

Speculation is rife within communities that the killings are by ANC members who covet the positions held by those murdered, the logic being that the dead shall be replaced by the murderers within the party.

There are even allegations of ambitious taxi drivers who join the ANC with the hope of becoming councillors, and thereby earning more money.

If these allegations are anything to go by, the question cannot be avoided: How could political parties be fashioned so as to tame the murderous potential of personal ambitions?

The pious among us might call for divine intervention, but nowhere in the Good Book is mankind commanded to solve political problems as if he is exorcising demons. Political problems are the province of the mind, not the spirit.

How, then, does the mind deal with the problem of ambitious people, who murder those who have been elected to hold positions of power?

The best solution would be for a party to adopt meritocracy as a guiding principle in choosing and replacing candidates for political office.

This may seem banal, but strict adherence to it can save lives and build a better society.

Imagine if the ANC had adopted the policy that no person without a university degree is allowed to become a councillor.

Such a simple principle would have made it impossible for uneducated taxi drivers and other evil bullies to believe they could becouncillors.

It is true that educated people can kill, but it is equally true that they are generally fearful of the consequences. More importantly, educated people have more career options than unschooled taxi drivers.

Had the ANC adopted such a meritocratic policy, that only members with a university degree could become councillors, most of the murdered councillors in KZN would probably still be alive.

The uneducated among them would not have been eligible for the positions they were killed for. Thus, they would not have been targeted.

Ambitious bullies without an education would also not have targeted educated councillors-elect, for the bullies would know that killing a candidate would not make space for an unlettered murderer.

A policy like that would not only be good for political parties; it would be good for our society as a whole.

Firstly, it would prevent murder, and ensure children were not orphaned prematurely by political opportunists.

Secondly, the policy would ensure our communities were not run by illiterates. Municipal governance in the 21st century cannot be left in the hands of people who cannot read and write.

Electricity, water, sanitation and local economic development problems are too complex to be digested by a mind that has not been sharpened by books.

Thirdly, the meritocratic policy would instil a new political culture within parties and in society, generally. It would teach children that education was the only way to the top.

As they grow up, they would know one could not get a position by murdering a competitor, encouraging them to go to school.

Were we to get to a point where there was a saturation of people with degrees, we would simply raise the bar.

Some readers of this column may not know this, but you cannot become a prime minister without a master's degree in Iran, nor can your ambitions get you into parliament in Kenya without a university degree.

As you can imagine, some readers may be peeved at the idea that an uneducated person should not be allowed to occupy a position of responsibility.

Is there anyone who wants their children to be taught by an uneducated teacher? Such a person must be insane.

However you feel about education and political parties, only a brutally honest and coldly rational approach can prevent more political murders in KZN and elsewhere.