OPPOSITION parties have called on the
Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) to ensure that there is no preferential
treatment or abuse of state resources in the upcoming municipal
elections.
They made the call as leaders of the 13 political parties, represented in the National Assembly, signed the Electoral Code of Conduct in Midrand on Monday.
The signing comes 78 days before the August 3 local government elections.
Chairman of the commission Glen Mashinini said the code of conduct was like the "rules of the game" for the elections.
The pledge they signed committed leaders to reinforcing tolerance of their opponents as they led their parties; to counselling and advising all candidates on their party lists; to promoting the ending of no-go areas for campaigns; to not using speech that would provoke other parties or the public, and to working together to achieve the objects and goals of the code of conduct.
ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe said: "The IEC should ensure that when it comes to the public broadcasting organisations, there is fairness, (that) the president of the ANC is not given more time than the president of the ACDP."
Speaking on behalf of the ANC, President Jacob Zuma said the ruling party supported the pledge and would abide by it.
"No advantage will be given (as we) canvas and participate equally as equal parties," he said.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said the elections faced two challenges: the IEC’s conduct, which has been questioned by the courts, and the abuse of state resources for campaigning.
"Those components are not covered in this respective pledge and should, in fact, be … it must be the will of the people, not the will of the food parcels to ensure that they elect the government of their (choosing)," he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the signing, the EFF’s treasurer, Magdalene Moonsamy, said: "I believe the (upcoming) election is not just unique simply because we have a criminal for a president, but it’s also unique because we are insisting that our society returns to normalcy."
Other parties at the signing include the UDM, COPE, the IFP, the FF+, the PAC, Agang SA, the National Freedom Party, the United Democratic Front and the African Independent Congress.
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| Glen Mashinini. Picture: SUNDAY TIMES |
They made the call as leaders of the 13 political parties, represented in the National Assembly, signed the Electoral Code of Conduct in Midrand on Monday.
The signing comes 78 days before the August 3 local government elections.
Chairman of the commission Glen Mashinini said the code of conduct was like the "rules of the game" for the elections.
The pledge they signed committed leaders to reinforcing tolerance of their opponents as they led their parties; to counselling and advising all candidates on their party lists; to promoting the ending of no-go areas for campaigns; to not using speech that would provoke other parties or the public, and to working together to achieve the objects and goals of the code of conduct.
ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe said: "The IEC should ensure that when it comes to the public broadcasting organisations, there is fairness, (that) the president of the ANC is not given more time than the president of the ACDP."
Speaking on behalf of the ANC, President Jacob Zuma said the ruling party supported the pledge and would abide by it.
"No advantage will be given (as we) canvas and participate equally as equal parties," he said.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said the elections faced two challenges: the IEC’s conduct, which has been questioned by the courts, and the abuse of state resources for campaigning.
"Those components are not covered in this respective pledge and should, in fact, be … it must be the will of the people, not the will of the food parcels to ensure that they elect the government of their (choosing)," he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the signing, the EFF’s treasurer, Magdalene Moonsamy, said: "I believe the (upcoming) election is not just unique simply because we have a criminal for a president, but it’s also unique because we are insisting that our society returns to normalcy."
Other parties at the signing include the UDM, COPE, the IFP, the FF+, the PAC, Agang SA, the National Freedom Party, the United Democratic Front and the African Independent Congress.
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