• Only three parties represented during important engagement
• Political leaders have a meaningful role in ensuring free and fair elections.
• Citizens constitutional right to cast their ballot without undue influence must be upheld.
(Please note Francois Rodgers, MPL sound bite in English)
The DA in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Legislature welcomes Speaker, Nontembeko Boyce’s proactive engagement with political party leaders following recent unrest and destruction of property in parts of the province.
The engagement, which took place yesterday evening, comes as KZN faces a history of violence and political intolerance, repeatedly resulting in death and destruction. It is therefore incumbent on all political parties to ensure that our province never again witnesses any form of anarchy, particularly at the level that erupted in July 2021.
Yesterday’s engagement was also an opportunity for government, through Premier Thami Ntuli, to brief all political party leaders on the current situation and any government interventions. It is disturbing that, despite this, only three parties were represented, namely the IFP, ANC and the DA with other parties conspicuous by their absence.
As we move towards South Africa’s Local Government Election (LGE), it is essential that all leaders within society – including political leaders – play a meaningful role in setting the tone for free and fair elections. Those who break the law in order to achieve their own objectives, must face the full consequences.
KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), of which the DA is a committed partner, is working tirelessly to eradicate the poverty and inequality that remain a threat to our province. Political stability and tolerance are crucial to building a stable provincial economy and creating jobs. Stability encourages investment, anarchy leads to disinvestment.
When KZN’s people go to the polls on 4 November, they must do so without intimidation or threats of violence. The DA is committed to monitoring this and to ensuring that law enforcement does its job effectively. Our citizens constitutional right to cast their ballot without undue influence must be upheld.