By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed the police to follow up on videos that are trending on social media of people threatening to unleash political violence ahead of the 29 May elections.
His comments come after a flood of social media content by supporters of the ANC splinter party, Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK), which claims its right to exist and contest the elections is under threat.
Ramaphosa said anarchists and peddlers of political violence belong in jail.
“I just want to make it clear to anyone who is threatening any form of unrest [that] they will be followed up and they will be arrested.
“Those are people who belong in jail. Those are people who are the enemies of our democracy.
“The people of South Africa value this hard-won democracy, they don’t want any form of instability,” said Ramaphosa.
The most controversial of the videos shows Durban politician Visvin Reddy in MK party colours threatening there will be a civil war if MK is not on the ballot.
The party, which is supported by former president Jacob Zuma, is engaged in a legal dispute with the ANC over its name and its logo.
The ANC says the name uMkhonto weSizwe belongs to its now defunct armed wing whose former combatants are organised under the umbrella of the MK Military Veterans Association.
Reddy, a former member of the Minority Front who later joined the ANC, appears to be addressing MK supporters.
“Listen to me very carefully, this country will be turned into a civil war the day that MK is not allowed to campaign and to be on the ballot paper.
“No one will vote, no one in the country will vote, we will make sure that no one will vote if MK is not on the ballot paper,” he said.
Ramaphosa called on political parties and anyone who has a complaint about the electoral process to take it to the Independent Electoral Commission or pursue it through the courts.
“When you are dissatisfied with any decision, be it a government decision, the president’s decision or a minister’s decision, even a court’s decision, there are ways in which all those complaints can be followed up,” said Ramaphosa.
“So for anyone to say if this does not happen they are going to have instability is against the will of the people of South Africa.
“And I can promise you those people will be followed up and we will arrest them … that is going to happen,” the president said.
Pictured above: President Cyril Ramaphosa during a presidential imbizo at Emalahleni in Mpumalanga.
Source: X
