Election ‘16 turns ugly – Death threats, intimidation and vandalism

Another 34 days to go to Election Day 2016 and some political parties in Limpopo are at each other’s throats as they feverishly campaign for votes in favour of their preferred local government representatives. Most recently death threats, intimidation, floor-crossing and vandalism of posters and equipment have reportedly been characterising the processes in the province, where 28 of 56 registered parties signed the Code of Conduct of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Polokwane on Monday.
When speaking to key players in the upcoming elections predictions were made that the situation could possibly still reach boiling point once results were announced. The situation has already taken a turn for the worst with the recent shooting of an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) candidate in a Polokwane taxi rank and the attack on Bolsheviks Party of South Africa Leader Seun Mogotji at home in a village in Moutse on 5 May this year. Fresh claims of death threats and foul language hurled at Democratic Alliance (DA) candidates have now emerged amid parties in Limpopo continuously suspecting each other of vandalism and removal of electioneering posters in hotspots across the province.
Mogotji informed Polokwane Observer that no arrests had been made as yet in the case of attempted murder following the incident during which he was shot at home in Ntoane area near Moutse that evening. Mogotji expressed the opinion that he was being seen as an increasing threat within the Elias Motsoaledi municipal structure where he serves on the mayoral committee. With his party contesting seats and wards in municipalities in Sekhukhune and Capricorn Districts as well as a district in Mpumalanga and the city of Johannesburg, they have thus far not experienced other incidents in the run-up to the local government elections but merely their members being approached to join other parties, he indicated. According to Mogotji they have been joined by 12 councillors having broken ties with the African National Congress (ANC) and had close relations with a further seven who turned independent.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle alluded to one of their candidates in Polokwane having been threatened with his life last week, a matter taken up with the Police, and another being the victim of verbal abuse during a confrontation a fortnight ago. Other than that their party posters had been removed in Polokwane, Mankweng and Groblersdal, he said.
EFF Provincial Leader Michael Mathebe indicated that no arrest had been made as yet in the matter of their candidate, Elizabeth Tjatji, having been shot in a downtown taxi rank last month. He continued saying they haven’t experienced any incidents of intimidation, however their party posters had been removed and vandalised. He referred to their posters having been removed in Modimolle this weekend before a scheduled address by ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
ANC Limpopo Spokesperson Aluwani Netsianda called on all parties contesting in the elections to restrain their members to contest through the ballot box and not by vandalising election machinery of other parties. Referring to about three cases being opened after ANC-branded trailers had been vandalised across the province, he said they wouldn’t want to point fingers at a political party but awaited the Police to identify the culprits. At the same time scores of ANC election posters were being removed in various locations across Limpopo, he added. Netsianda concluded saying isolated cases of intimidation of their members had been reported in all districts of the province.
Congress of the People (Cope) Provincial Leader Patrick Sikhutshi said they had not experienced any serious challenges or incidents demanding Police intervention or intimidation, although they were not the type of people who could easily be intimidated by anyone. A month ago they had, however, discovered posters of another party being placed on top of theirs in Louis Trichardt and Thohoyandou.
Provincial Police spokesperson Ronel Otto could not confirm any cases of intimidation related to election-related processes, but advised that affected individuals should report matters to the Police.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com