South African political parties have spoken out against political intolerance and violence ahead of next year’s general elections.
They took part in a panel discussion in Durban on Tuesday, entitled, ”Creating an environment conducive to free and fair elections”.
The event was hosted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Bantu Holomisa, head of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), condemned acts of intolerance.
”We reject any unilateral decisions by one party asking for early elections. It can’t be a decision only by the ruling party.”
He said both the UDM and the Congress of the People (Cope) had been victims of political intolerance.
Holomisa proposed that the IEC arrange a meeting with political leaders and President Kgalema Motlanthe to address the issue of political intolerance.
”Perhaps we should punish those leaders who create no-go areas by removing them from the ballot papers?”
ANC provincial chairperson Zweli Mkhize said the his party was also concerned about political intolerance.
”We believe that if there is any situation where an element of intolerance is identified, we must work together to remove it. We need to make sure no person is harmed as a result [of intolerance]. We don’t believe there should be a platform used for throwing stones.”
The Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo) said the IEC should screen all its election officials so that neutrality could be maintained.
He described political criticism as a platform for ”winning the hearts and minds of the people”.
He said it was through political criticism that voters would decide which party to support.
The Democratic Alliance’s Sandra Botha said that as a result of the breakaway party Cope, there was more choice for an alternative government.
The new democratic spirit, she said, could not be undermined.
Botha said that in the past month many political events had been disrupted and she accused ANC members of creating the disruptions.
She said DA members had been pelted with stones, and that South Africa needed to do something.
She said a multiparty task-team should be established to prevent political violence before and after the elections.
The Inkatha Freedom Party’s Musa Zondi called on political parties to ensure the elimination of no-go areas.
”We ask, in particular, that the inflammatory language which is emanating from the leader of the ANC Youth League, and other sections of the tripartite alliance, be fearlessly censored.”
Minority Front leader Amichand Rajbansi said that once there was an attempt at coercion, ”then the seeds of trouble are sown; it is not right to make any false statements of any political party”. – Sapa