The visibility of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members in and around Majakaneng village outside Brits, in the North-west has not had any negative impact on an ANC Youth League and Young Communist League election campaign.
Heavy police presence prevented a pending conflict between ANC supporters and EFF members. Young Communists League national secretary Buti Manamela says the EFF members have not intimidated them as their focus has been to rally support for the ANC. Manamela says a small number of people cannot stop the ANC led alliance. He says no group can stop the progressive alliance.
“We are here to show that there is no place called no-go-area for the ANC, South African Communist Party or Alliance; Everyone has a right to campaign wherever they want and also to show that irrespective of the challenges of water that the people of Majaneng had a month or so ago they still have confidence in the ANC leadership,” says Manamela.
At least 33 political parties recently signed the Electoral Code of Conduct to ensure a free and fair election on May 7. The Code of Conduct commits them to tolerance during election campaigns and prohibits them from inciting their members or the public. There have been several incidents of political intolerance in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Last week live ammunition was fired, allegedly by an ANC member in Bekkersdal west of Johannesburg, when protestors tried to disrupt the party’s door to door campaign in the volatile township.
In KwaZulu-Natal local political party leaders were killed in KwaMashu hostel. IEC commissioner Judge Thami Makhanya read out the pledge which states that parties need to effectively counsel or advise all candidates to propagate maximum tolerance. To publicly promote eradication of no go areas for campaigns of political parties.
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