Police, army on standby for elections

KZN premier, Willies Mchunu has promised KwaDukuza district will receive more police officers to help maintain order during the local elections in August. This follows the spate of violence in which cane trucks have been burnt and roads blocked in protests over candidate selection.

Troops of the South African defence force will be on standby during the elections, should they be needed.

Speaking at the Africa Day celebrations in KwaDukuza on last Wednesday, Mchunu acknowledged that this was the only region with a case of murder during the last national elections.

“We need to ensure that we prevent such incidents from recurring. People in KwaDukuza need to be able to vote in peace and without fear,” he said.

During the 2014 national elections, Thando “Nuh” Mhlongo was killed outside a Lindelani polling station on Wednesday, May 7. IFP member Mxolisi Nxumalo was arrested in connection with the murder.

A number of violent protests have occurred throughout the district for several months – in Isithebe, Nkobongo, Etete, Shaka’s Head and Driefontein – with destruction of buildings, stoning of vehicles, the N2 and other roads blocked and three trucks burnt.

A truck transporting cane was stoned and the driver assaulted on the Glendale Road near Shayamoya, and three cane trucks were set alight on the  outside KwaDukuza at Ntshaweni when an angry mob of children and young adults closed the road and surrounded the vehicles. Apparently they were upset that government was not doing enough to protect pedestrians using the R102, by forcing the traffic to slow down with speed humps. The cost of the damage was several millions of rands.

Attempts were made to set fire to the home of Shayamoya councillor, John Phahla, and residents stormed into the ANC offices in KwaDukuza, demanding their complaints be heard.

Protesters in other areas have been complaining about the lack of jobs and have said they are extremely dissatisfied with the way ANC electoral candidates have been selected by the ward committees. Authorities are concerned that they may target election day, Wednesday August 3, to drive their point home.

However, Inkatha Freedom Party national chairperson, Blessed Gwala, was not happy that KwaDukuza had been singled out for special protection.

“What about other areas, don’t they deserve security? I know about the 2014 incident but they must deal with the protests,” said Gwala.

Mchunu said those who wanted to kill and disturb the elections were not part of the united African nation.

Mchunu went on to praise the Ilembe region to be one of the regions in KZN in which there were no xenophobic attacks last year.

“It was heart-warming when we came here last year and we find people of this area, marching against xenophobia. Thank you, it was appreciated,” said Mchunu.

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