African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa is calling for calm and political tolerance ahead of the 29 May general elections.
The comments come after some ANC members were allegedly attacked by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) members on Saturday in KwaCeza, Nongoma in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The allegedly took place while Ramaphosa and Amazulu King Misuzulu ka-Zwelithini were attending the commemoration of the 110th anniversary death of King Dinizulu ka-Cetshwayo.
The attack is suspected to have been sparked by an incident when provincial ANC Chairperson Siboniso Duma, grabbed a microphone from AmaZulu Traditional Prime Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi, accusing him of campaigning for the IFP.
Buthelezi is also the IFP Mayor of the Zululand District Municipality.
Ramaphosa stressed that the ANC abhor violence.
“We’re totally against violence and we want these elections to be run on a non-violent basis, where the electorate, people who want to go and vote are able to exercise their rights and their choice without being coerced, without being threatened and without any fear whatsoever.
“We will ensure, as the ANC together with the ANC-led government to ensure that there is safety from now leading right up to the elections,” said Ramaphosa.
The president said there is no place for violence in the democratic South Africa, adding that the country has always been known and respected as a country that respect political tolerance.
He urged political party leaders to reprimand their members who are encouraging for violence ahead of the elections.
“We call on all South Africans to be totally against violence and should not participate in any violent activity.
“We call on leaders of various political parties to call on their members to desist from using violence, even articulating violent ridden statements.
That shouldn’t be happening at all, because we want our people to be free to make their own choices,” explained Ramaphosa.
The president described the alleged attack as ‘most unfortunate’ adding that the party and law enforcement authorities are investigating it.
“As I’ve said often, those who try to take our democracy for granted and try to destroy it, there’ll be consequences.
We will make sure that we follow up anybody who tries to derail this democracy that we build after such a long struggle,” added Ramaphosa.
