STATEMENT ON THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CANDIDATES

Issued by: African National Congress

ANC STATEMENT ON THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES

As a demonstration of his organisation's commitment to the holding of
free and fair local government elections, ANC president Nelson Mandela
is today dispatching letters on the Electoral Code of Conduct to all ANC
candidates throughout the country.

These elections will be a culmination of decades of struggle and
sacrifice by millions of people. Neither strength nor effort should be
spared for the realisation of our noble goal for democratic local
governance.

The ANC commits itself to ensure that all people of our country
participate freely in the elections without fear of coercion, violence
or intimidation. We know too well what pain and suffering, violence and
intimidation has brought on millions of our people, particularly in
KwaZulu/Natal.

It is the responsibility therefore of all political parties to act
in a manner that will not stir hostile racial, ethnic or political
emotions that may lead to violence and intimidation or even undermine
the holding of free and fair elections in our localities.

It is the ANC's belief that all voters have a right to hear the
policies of all politicalparties so as to make informed decision on who
to vote for. Free and fair elections are the essence of democracy and it
is the ANC which has fought so hard and for so long that all South
Africans can enjoy it.

President Mandela has committed all ANC candidates to:

* respect the right of all political parties and voters to disagree;

* publicly condemn violence and intimidation;

* work together with all political parties to ensure the elections are
free and fair;

* actively encourage the participation of women in all parts of the
elections;

* ensure the perpetrators of electoral crime and fraud are brought to
book.

In addition the ANC will be putting into place a
monitoring/complaints committee staffed by members of parliament and the
legislatures and lawyers at a provincial level to receive and act on
complaints. A hotline will be established at ANC Headquarters to enable
our election co-ordinators to intervene in crisis situations.

The ANC will wind up its lection campaign over the weekend of the
28-29 October with two rallies to be addressed by President Nelson
Mandela in Graaf Reinet and Orlando Stadium respectively.

The ANC will be fielding over 6000 candidates who are steeped in ANC
policy, discipline and code of conduct. The ANC commits itself to act
firmly and decisively against all forms of violence, corruption and
intimidation to ensure free and fair local government elections.

Issued by the Department of Information and Publicity
P.O. Box 61884
Marshalltown
2107
28 September 1995.