A group of Khutsong residents declared the township a no-go area for the African National Congress during a protest march on Wednesday.
”We are tired of the ANC. Other political parties are welcome to campaign, but not the ANC,” said Elisa Bogatsa as residents protested the transfer of the Merafong municipality from Gauteng to the North West.
Organisers of the demonstration called for a boycott of the March 1 local government elections.
”We are not going to the North West. We are willing to die for this,” said Moago Mokgisi, who was among the protesters opposed to the transfer of the municipality, which includes Khutsong.
Residents charged that the people’s needs have not been taken into consideration and that the government should have asked them to which province they want to belong.
”[President] Thabo Mbeki came to Khutsong to campaign for the elections, but he doesn’t come when we need him. The councillors are the only people who are happy with the government’s decision because they are going to gain out of it,” said Mokgisi.
Protesters also accused Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota, North West Premier Edna Molewa and Merafong mayor Des van Rooyen of lying to the media.
”They targeted a few places and spoke to a few people; after that they lied to the people that the situation in Khutsong has stabilised, which is not true,” said Kenny Modise, another protester.
Protesters on Wednesday handed a memorandum to Gauteng government chief director Mpho Mogale, demanding a parliamentary intervention in the dispute over the transfer.
Protesters also demanded the immediate removal of councillors Oupa Ramokoatedi and Eric Mathiso for their alleged involvement in a shooting during a protest last week.
They asked why Ramokoatedi was granted bail of R1 000, while the bail of a protester arrested last year was set at R50 000.
They warned that failure to respond to their demands within five working days would result in ”more anger that will culminate in a bigger series of marches until the demands of the people are met”.
The protesters chanted ”no vote, no vote, no vote” when, after accepting the memorandum, Mogale urged them to vote in the March 1 local government elections.
Mogale told reporters the decision to incorporate Merafong into the North West has been finalised.
The protesters carried South African Communist Party and Pan Africanist Congress banners. They also bore placards reading: ”Lekota do you want to die of heart attack? Back off!!” and ”Fuck Off North West, luv u GP”. They sang ”Siyaya eGauteng, even when they shoot, assault and arrest us” as they marched.
The ANC Merafong election media team on Wednesday criticised residents for declaring Khutsong 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 chairperson [Lekota],” said the team’s spokesperson, Bobo Ndlakuza.
He called on ANC members in the area to remain calm and ”avoid retaliation in the midst of intimidation and violence”.
Meanwhile, seven political parties in the strife-torn West Rand municipality 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 Khutsong people to take part in the elections. ”Khutsong people must take part in the elections. Political parties have a critical role to play in rebuilding peace and reconciliation in this community even after the elections.”
The ANC 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 is also set to contest the election in Merafong, was not present at the signing ceremony. — Sapa