The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes action by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to deal with attempts to incitement to violence in the run up to the May 29 elections with the charging and appearing in court of MK Party leader Visvin Reddy.

It is critical a zero-tolerance approach be maintained by government towards any parties, representatives or persons who in any form seek to incite violence or intimidation in the run up to the elections.  In particular we expect the NPA, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the courts including the Electoral Court and the Independent Electoral Commission to be ruthlessly efficient in this regard.  This includes dealing with well-known malcontents and brats who spend their time spewing hatred and instigating persons to engage in violence on various social media platforms. 

With all our challenges as a society, we cannot afford to add threats to add political violence or attempts to undermine the running of our elections or the integrity of the IEC to them. 

Any aspirant political vandals who seek to undermine our democratic fabric and Constitution, must simply be collected by the SAPS and dropped off at the nearest Correctional Services facility.  The Electoral Court and the IEC must wield the powers allocated to them by the Electoral Act to penalise any party and candidate who fails to abide by the law, including disqualifying such culprits from taking a seat in Parliament or a Provincial Legislature.

Issued by COSATU.

For further information please contact:
Matthew Parks
Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator 
Cell: 082 785 0687