People are growing weary of violence and do not wish to die for someone else seeking a seat in Parliament, Independent Electoral Commission chairperson Brigalia Bam said on Monday.
She added that in the past three weeks there had been 18 political rallies and only three incidents of violence, all in the same province — KwaZulu-Natal.
”The majority of South Africans embrace the values of the Code of Conduct and signing it was only a mere formality,” she said.
The signing of the code, which commits parties to a peaceful election, was introduced in 1999 following the deaths of many in the run-up to the 1994 elections.
Bam said proof of her statement was that in 1994 the electoral commission received 3 508 complaints, which included no-go areas and intimidation.
”In 1999 with the signing of the Code of Conduct for the first time we only had 1 032 complaints,” she said.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille in accepting the code said the views of various parties contesting the election were not that different and therefore, there was no reason for antagonism between parties.
De Lille said she was very positive, now that she had ”managed to pay the deposit”, and said she was very keen to see how the country would respond to a ”woman leader”.
”I have many scores to settle,” she warned.
During the signing, which saw much light-hearted bantering between parties, the question of violence in KwaZulu-Natal was often raised but Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi committed himself and his followers to peaceful election, a pledge he reiterated in Zulu.
”I’ve suffered much disappointment in my long life but have not yet lost all faith in the species Homo sapiens. I therefore dedicate myself and my party to a democratic and violence free election,” he said.
Bradford Wood (Bad Brad) of Big Brother fame and leader of The Organisation Party, in a rare display of nerves confided that he was ”fucking nervous”, as he had just been told he would be called on to make a two-minute speech.
But his fiery address showed none of it when he lambasted all politicians present for being corrupt and lazy including Deputy President Jacob Zuma, former Western Cape premier Peter Marais and United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.
”And I believe that all politicians should be held personally accountable for every single crime during the last 10 years,” he said to much applause.
Pan Africanist Congress leader Motsoko Pheko in true form declared his wish of peace ”for all Afrikaans” and hoped that it would not be peace as found in the grave.
He was applauded by Buthelezi when he too claimed to have been on the receiving end of political violence in Mafikeng — ”and that is not in KwaZulu-Natal”, he said.
There are 35 parties registered to compete in the national and provincial elections in April. The Western Cape is the most contested province with 19 parties fighting for the provincial vote. — Sapa
Special Report: Elections 2004