IFP promises to reopen debate on reinstatement of death penalty

The Inkatha Freedom Party promised safety of Gauteng residents and to reopen the debate on the reinstatement of the death penalty as a way to fight crime.

The party held its provincial manifesto launch rally at Zola sports complex in Soweto on Thursday.

It said it would reprioritise the SAPS budget to focus on community policing and police visibility on the streets, among communities and at business centres and public spaces.

Gauteng is notorious for high end crimes such as car hijackings and cash heist robberies.

Under IFP rule, all unused land held by the state would be distributed to alleviate poverty and address land deprivation.

“South Africa’s people suffered immensely under colonial rule and apartheid. Reasonable measures must be taken to redress past injustices and indignities as our political democracy cannot thrive if the masses of our people remain without land or perceptible prospects for a better life,” said the IFP’s “Our Plan for Gauteng”.

Despite being the country’s and the continent’s economic hub, Gauteng was still devastated by high unemployment especially among the youth. To address this the party promised to create a provincial and municipal database of unemployed persons and introduce a subsidised unemployment “job seekers metro card for Gautrain, Metrobus and Rea Vaya transit trips”.

Free WiFi would be offered to rural and township businesses to increase access to financial services and micro finance for developing entrepreneurs.

To realise its vision of a “world class” education, the IFP promised to champion the building of more schools with classes of 500 learners per school and free scholar transport. In an IFP-led government all schools would be guarded by trained security guards.

High-spirited Zulu maidens and young men in traditional regalia danced to a mix of hip hop, maskandi and their own Zulu traditional songs in formations of war-styled groups while waiting to be addresse by IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

-ericn@citizen.co.za

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