ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for political tolerance between parties as election campaigns intensify ahead of the local government elections in November. This follows reports alleging that some ANC members tried to block EFF leader Julius Malema from monitoring voters’ registration at one of the stations in KwaDambuza in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
Ramaphosa was in Mbombela, Mpumalanga during the last day of the voters’ registration.
“There should not be any political clashes. The ANC comrades know that we should allow all political parties to campaign anywhere. We must never stop any political party from campaigning.”
LGE 2021 | Ramaphosa says political parties must respect each other when campaigning:
EFF leader Julius Malema had to force his way into the registration venue after supporters of the ANC blockaded his vehicles from entering the premises. The incident happened in KwaDambuza area outside Pietermaritzburg.
The area is an ANC stronghold.
Some community members wearing ANC regalia stood next to the gate prevented Malema and his protection unit from entering. Then violent clashes ensued.
But Malema eventually made his way into the voting station. He accused these ANC members of being politically intolerant.
“I am here to do my work and if they want to do anything let them do it. There is no way that I’m going to be intimidated by anyone. I am here to do my work. The ANC is being intolerant. Why are they intolerant? I do not know who said there should be no-go areas, that can’t be. There will never be a place where the is a no-go area. We are going everywhere and there is no one who is going to block us. We campaign everywhere. The ANC campaigns everywhere. We never stop them. Why are they stopping us?”
The EFF will lodge a complaint with the IEC following the incident.
“We are going to lodge a complaint with the IEC. The IEC leadership is here. I’ve seen the lady of the IEC filming the whole incident. We are going to complain, definitely. This is unacceptable. The ANC must be disqualified, particularly in this ward, for conducting themselves in the manner they did.”
LGE 2021 | EFF vs ANC scuffle – EFF to file a complaint with IEC:
The Inkatha Freedom Party has called on other political parties to ensure that there is peace and stability in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the November 1st elections. The party says people should be allowed to practice their democratic right to vote by participating freely in the elections.
IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa monitored voter registration in various townships on the north of Durban on Saturday.
This is Hlabisa’s first election at the helm of the party since he took over from IFP founder, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
LGE 2021 | IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa leads election campaign in Lindelani:
