NWC expresses confidence in free and peaceful election
African National Congress, 20 Apr 2009
The ANC National Working Committee (NWC), meeting today in Johannesburg,expressed confidence that South Africa will have free, fair and peaceful elections on Wednesday, 22 April 2009.
The meeting, however, noted the continued illegal business conduct by some micro-lenders of retaining the identity documents of their clients and called for an immediate end to this behaviour.
The ANC urges all people who are affected to go and collect their identity documents and if they encounter resistance, they should press charges with the police. We urge all those micro-lenders who are in possession of other people's identity documents to immediately return them to their rightful owners. This will allow these voters to exercise their democratic right of casting their ballots in Wednesday's general elections.
Withholding the identity documents will not only be illegal but will be denying our people their right to determine the government of their choice.
The NWC also reminded voters of the importance of appropriate voter behavior as part of efforts to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. This behavior is regulated through the Electoral Act, which, among other things, prohibits voters trying to influence other voters by talking, singing or holding placards inside the voting station.
While candidates and electoral officials may not wear party paraphernalia in voting stations, there is nothing that stops voters from wearing party insignia in voting stations.
We also remind our people that they may not organise marches, demonstrations or political meetings on election day but can assist other voters to reach the voting station, remind others to vote through loud-hailing or door-to-door activities.
Guided by the contents of the pledge of good conduct signed by our President, we remain committed to ensure that our members conduct themselves in a manner that will reinforce a culture of tolerance towards all other parties contesting the elections and to effectively counsel and advise all our candidates to propagate a message of maximum tolerance.
We also hope that candidates of other parties will also act responsibly as this will ensure that a culture of tolerance permeates throughout the structures of parties and is passed on to supporters and to the general public. Back to top
