Seven political parties in the strife-torn Merafong municipality on the West Rand signed an election code of conduct on Wednesday, committing themselves to a free and fair election.
The signing ceremony took place at the Merafong municipal offices in Carletonville.
Independent Electoral Commission chairperson Brigalia Bam urged the parties to tolerate each other during the March 1 local government election.
”Every political party has a right to recruit members and every South African has the right to attend public meetings,” Bam said. She urged the parties to preserve the ”heart of democracy”.
The African National Congress said it will continue to ”give a better life for all”.
The sub-regional chairperson of the party, Peter Mogale, said it will do its best to promote political tolerance and free and fair elections.
The Democratic Alliance’s Tyrone Cass said his party is also committed to a free and fair election. He expressed the hope that the other parties would strive for the same.
The other parties, including the Independent Democrats, echoed this sentiment.
The Azanian People’s Organisation, which was also set to contest the election in Merafong, was not present at the signing ceremony.
The ANC Merafong election media team criticised the people of Khutsong who do not want to be included in the North West. They also criticised the residents of Khutsong for declaring it a no-go area for the party.
”Tomorrow [Friday] and Saturday we will continue with our door-to-door campaign and to interact with the community in Khutsong with our national chairman [Mosiuoa Lekota],” the team’s spokesperson, Bobo Ndlakuza, said.
He called on ANC members in the area to remain calm and ”avoid retaliation in the midst of intimidation and violence”. — Sapa