‘Zero tolerance of political violence’
POLITICAL parties who transgress the electoral code could be deregistered. That was the warning from KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu at a briefing session held in Durban yesterday ahead of the local government elections set to take place on August 3.
A special task team attached to the Hawks had been set up. The elite crime-fighters were already on the ground and would be gathering intelligence to detect and investigate politically motivated murders. This would be supported by a witness-protection programme in instances of intimidation of witnesses.
With the briefing attended by all the major political parties in the region, Mchunu called on political leaders to encourage a spirit of non-violence during the forthcoming local elections and sent a strong message that violent incidents will not be tolerated, saying breaches of the electoral code will be taken to court without hesitation.
“There is a monitoring mechanism in that, if any party breaches electoral conduct, they will be taken to court, where the maximum penalty can be to be deregistered. If a political party can be cancelled, this would serve as a deterrent in future. The IEC has the power to deregister a party due to the conduct of its members. You have been warned,” said Mchunu.
The premier’s stance was backed by the national chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Glen Mashinini, who said that “over and above the commission, there is the Electoral Court and the Constitutional Court”, and that anyone breaching the code could face stiff penalties, depending on the severity of the breach.
“Anyone can be ordered from participating,” said Mashinini.
The premier also highlighted that party leaders had played a crucial role in previous local elections in areas such as uMlazi and Nongoma, and that unrest and violence needed to be rapidly dealt with by party leadership.
He confirmed that the provincial executive council had been briefed by the SAPS on the state of readiness to deal with political violence, and that the Hawks would be working with public prosecutors.
“As soon as cases are resolved and arrests are made, matters will be prosecuted,” said Mchunu.
Political violence has already resulted in the deaths of several councillors and candidates in the province this year.
Political violence monitor Mary de Haas said earlier this week that at least 14 people had been killed within and between political parties this year – 11 from the ANC, two from the NFP, and one from the IFP.