ANC concerned about 'spiking intolerance'

The African National Congress (ANC) on Monday expressed concern that “high levels of intolerance” will hamper South Africa’s ability to hold a free and fair election.

“The ANC is concerned [that] high levels [of] intolerance by all sides will mar our reputation as a nation that has held free and fair elections in the past.

“The ANC will not hesitate to act against any of its members who bring the organisation into disrepute by creating an atmosphere of political intolerance,” the party said.

This followed incidents of intimidation and intolerance noted by the party during the final voter registration weekend.

This included the intimidation of Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials by a landlord at a registration point in Khayelitsha in Cape Town which resulted in three registration points failing to open.

The party said that a vehicle carrying ANC supporters in the Cullinan area was shot at, while in Volksrus and Mautse protests marred the registration processes.

The incidents were reported to the IEC, the ANC said.

Seven Congress of the People (Cope) members were injured when they were attacked, allegedly by ANC members, on Sunday in Kou-Kamma, Storms River, in the Eastern Cape.

Earlier this month, three ANC members were shot and injured when the party held a rally in an Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) stronghold in KwaZulu-Natal.

The IEC said six stations in Moutse, Mpumalanga, only opened on Sunday after they failed to open on Saturday because of “protests and intimidation”.

The commission was disturbed by a complaint from the IFP that voters from certain parties had been purged from the voter roll.

The ANC encouraged South Africans who had not yet registered to vote to do so as registration would close once the date of the election has been gazetted.

It said it was “relatively pleased” with the past registration weekend, barring a few incidents of late arrival at registration points by IEC officials and the lack of toilets and water at other points.

The IEC could not immediately be reached for comment.—Sapa