ANC and IFP preach poll peace
2004-02-20 18:30
Durban - The African National Congress and Inkatha Freedom Party delivered messages of peace as they signed a code of conduct in Durban on Friday with 11 other parties contesting the April elections in KwaZulu-Natal.
"I am prepared to die for KwaZulu-Natal, but I am not prepared to see KwaZulu-Natal dying for me," was the message of ANC provincial chairman S'bu Ndebele, according to party spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu.
"He stressed that all parties, especially the ANC and IFP, must get down to the people at grassroots level to preach the gospel of peace," said Mthimkhulu.
Ndebele's IFP counterpart Musa Zondi said his party would not provide shelter for those committing violence or intimidation.
"The IFP unequivocally rejects violence and the perpetrators of violence," he said.
Both parties will monitor events
"We stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone that rejects the path of violence and walks the path of peace."
Zondi pointed out that about 25 000 people had died in KwaZulu-Natal in so-called black-on-black violence between 1983 and 1996, and expressed concern about recent sporadic acts of violence and intimidation.
"As a result of this, the provincial ANC and IFP are going to be putting into place a mutually agreed programme and mechanisms to monitor these events to ensure that our members do not become involved in these incidents."
Several cases of political clashes have recently been reported between the ANC and IFP in KwaZulu-Natal. Earlier this month, seven people were injured in a shooting at a political rally at Wembesi township.
Other parties who signed the code on Friday were the African Christian Democratic Party, the Azanian People's Organisation, the Democratic Alliance, the Independent Democrats, the Minority Front, the New National Party, the Pan Africanist Congress, the Peace and Development Party, the Socialist Party of Azania, the United Democratic Movement and the Freedom Front Plus.
R200 000 fine possible
Similar codes have already been signed in three other provinces, with five more to follow.
KwaZulu-Natal election manager Ntombfuthi Masinga said the code encouraged tolerance towards other parties in the run-up to the election, and on polling day.
Infringements of the code included using undue influence to persuade people to vote or not to vote for a particular party, defacing party posters, excluding certain parties from so-called no-go areas and interrupting political meetings.
Penalties for infringement of the code could include a R200 000 fine, a party's votes being nullified, or elections in a certain area being declared null and void.
- SAPA