By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal is shocked to see the hatred of some people in parts of the province. Most of the anti-ANC sentiments are noted in Umlazi.
The township of over 400,000 residents is split between supporters of the IFP, ANC and recently Umkhonto Wesizwe.
The ANC support base in the area has been influenced by factional battles in the ANC for years now.
Umlazi residents were at the forefront of the July 2021 riots that seemed to protest the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma for contempt of court.
Residents looted and caused structural damage to the local Umlazi Mega City Mall and other businesses in the Durban South business district.
In recent months, Umlazi residents have been fighting with the ANC-run eThekwini metro over water cuts. Some sections of the township have been without water for the past five years.
This week, the ANC said it had noticed that its election posters were being vandalised in Durban, especially in Umlazi.
“The African National Congress in eThekwini is appalled by the sharp increase in the unabated vandalism and destruction of its campaign posters and billboards, particularly in Umlazi.
“There is a coordinated attempt to undermine the ANC campaign through gross vandalism and destruction of election posters and billboards,” the party said on Monday.
The IEC said its Electoral Code, signed by political parties contesting the elections, prohibits the following conduct:
- Using language which provokes violence;
- Intimidation of candidates or voters;
- Publishing false information about other candidates or parties;
- Plagiarising any other party’s symbols, names or acronyms;
- Offering any inducement or reward to a person to vote for a party;
- Destroying, removing or defacing posters of other parties;
- Carrying arms or weapons at political meetings, marches or rallies;
- Bribing voters to vote or not vote; and
- Generally abusing a position of power, privilege or influence to impact the outcome of an election.
Pictured above: A vandalised ANC billboard in Umlazi.
Image source: X
