ElectionsSA - Inner City Gazette - Unique Community Newspaper

Defaced colonial statues moved

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Polokwane - Four statues have been removed from the Polokwane CBD after one was defaced. The Moolman Group, which owns various properties in the city, says it was compelled to remove the statues.

The statues of Voortrekker leaders had been placed at the city’s Library Gardens in 1986. Moolman Group spokesperson Peter Pratt says they will consult relevant stakeholders on the next step.

“In light of the fact that the statues have been defaced in various places it was decided after consultation with the town council that we would remove the statues and place them where their cultural heritage can better be protected.

“We are presently in discussion with various role players as to where to keep these statues. This decision was moved forward in light due to the fact that one of the statues was defaced on Monday morning with paint,” explains Pratt.

Vandalism of statues began a few weeks ago at the University of Cape Town after students demanded that the statue of Cecil John Rhodes be removed from its campus. SABC

Mbalula evacuated from rally violence

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Fri, 02 May 2014 13:34:25 +0000

Rustenburg - Minister of Sports Fikile Mbalula was evacuated from an election rally at Freedom Park in North West on Sunday when striking Amcu members threw stones at cars.

Mbalula had been conducting a door-to-door campaign in the area when the incident erupted. Members of Amcu at Lonmin, Impala Platinum and Ango American Platinum have been on strike for the past three months, demanding a monthly salary of R12 500 for entry level workers.

On Thursday Amcu rejected the latest salary offer from the platinum producers.

Minister Mbalula said afterwards that the ANC would not be intimated through lawlessness.

SA needs revolution

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Fri, 02 May 2014 13:32:00 +0000

Durban - A revolution is needed in SA, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi (pictured) said on Tuesday at the University of Zululand.

“It starts on university campuses, with thinkers and doers, with people of passion and action. It starts with your vote.The power is yours. Don’t let anyone tell you that the power belongs to politicians. You decide who should lead our country.”

Buthelezi suggested that while the ANC may be the ruling party, they were not leaders. “Leaders don’t allow the police to fire on striking mineworkers. Leaders don’t promise half a million jobs, then lose a million instead. They don’t give tenders to their cousins. We struggled for generations to secure the right to choose our own leaders. Now that we have that right, we must use it to choose leaders worthy of our support,” Buthelezi said.

He then moved onto the Sidikiwe Vukani! Vote No” campaign, initiated by former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils and former health deputy minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge. “These stalwarts of the ANC have recognised that something has fundamentally changed in the ruling party. Something has gone rotten. That is a grossly irresponsible message. We would be shooting ourselves in the foot if we didn’t give SA a better alternative. We must vote,” said Buthelezi.

He urged those in attendance to vote for the IFP, as the party understood that it existed to serve the needs of the public. “We listen when you speak and act on your behalf, to bring solutions. We are a strong opposition, holding a failing government to account,” he added. Sapa

Reclaim your land - Malema

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Fri, 02 May 2014 13:23:03 +0000

Kwaggafontein - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema (pictured) has urged his supporters to reclaim their land that was lost during colonial and apartheid rule.

Malema was addressing over 2 000 EFF supporters in Kwaggafontein in Mpumalanga on Monday. He referred to those who took the land as ‘the enemy’, but he suggested there could be reconciliation with them.

Malema said he is not waging a war against President Zuma, but wants him to make way so that the EFF can campaign for the return of the land. “We are fighting you because you are standing in the way, make way we want to confront the enemy. Let the enemy bring back what belongs to us. We are going to kiss and that kiss will last forever. We will work hard and become friends. This country will become a peaceful country. There will be friendship; we will be successful because we all have what belongs to us.”

On Sunday, Malema received a warm welcome from party supporters in uMlazi, south of Durban, on his election campaign trail. He started by shaking the hands of a cheering crowd.

EFF leader was scheduled to address more than 2 000 people at Umlazi’s Glebelands stadium in the city. A guard of honour was formed for him during his arrival.

No DA, EFF alliance

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:44:52 +0000

Johannesburg - The DA and the EFF on Wednesday denied reports of a possible coalition between them after the 7 May elections.

Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said a coalition with the Economic Freedom Fighters would be unworkable because of ideological differences.

“I have always made it quite clear that we will only form coalitions where it is possible to form a coherent government and implement our policy commitments to the public. This would be impossible with the EFF,” she said in a statement.

EFF leader Julius Malema (pictured) said his party was not in talks with any other political party about coalitions.

“These reports must be dismissed as mere desperate speculations in an attempt to defocus the EFF’s objective of taking government, particularly in Gauteng,” he said.

The two parties in Gauteng were reportedly considering a coalition in the province. Both parties are determined to win Gauteng from the African National Congress on 7 May.

DA Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane and EFF premier candidate Dali Mpofu have been campaigning for votes all around the province.

News 24

Two killed in poll violence

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:42:49 +0000

Durban - Two ANC members have been killed in the run up to the 7 May elections, the party said on Wednesday.

Supa Zuma, the party’s secretary for the Moses Mabhida region, said Nkosi Nkwanyana was gunned down outside his home in the Mhlangandlovu area. Jabulile Ncalane, a party volunteer, was

Premier Senzo Mchunu said the ANC supporter was killed in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the same ward. “We were actually of the view that we could actually get to a point where we have no bloodshed,” he said.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the run-up to the elections had so far seen the least number of complaints received about the removal and defacing of political posters.

IEC chairwoman Pansy Tlakula said: “This time around we have had very few complaints, if any. The problem is down on the ground,” she said.

KwaZulu-Natal chief electoral officer Mawethu Mosery said 18 political parties would be contesting the election in the KwaZulu-Natal province and there were about 5.1 million voters there.

DA poster campaign

interns5@inner-city-gazette.co.za (Sithandekile Sibanda) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:41:16 +0000

Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance (DA) launched its final phase of posters towards the Gauteng elections at Gandhi Square in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The DA Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane said the aim was to deliver a message to voters around Gauteng. “We shall put up posters in every street around Johannesburg and we will be marching around the city. We are going to be for jobs and policies that cut out corruption, we want to ensure that Gauteng is not a city where R6 billion is being wasted.

Our aim is to support entrepreneurs and businesses, we want to see them grow. We want to fight e-tolling because it kills job creation. We would ensure that the standard of education in Gauteng improves,” Maimane said.

He added that the DA wants to send a strong message to the ANC. “We are together for change and for jobs, your vote can bring history,” he added.

Sithandekile Sibanda

Bishop slams 'vote no' campaign

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:07:33 +0000

Tshwane - The Bishop of Tshwane on Wednesday condemned the vote noî campaign started by some ANC veterans.
In the past 20 years of our hard-earned freedom, I have never felt as failed as I am today by the stance taken by former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils (pictured) and former deputy minister of health Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, of mobilising people to spoil their votes rather than vote for the ANC, the Right Reverend Abraham Thamsanqa Sibiya said in a statement.

Both of them would be unknown had it not been for the ANC, he said.
The Sidikiwe! Vukani! Vote no!î campaign calls on South Africans to either vote for a minority party, or spoil their ballots.
If the ANC were to lose three, four percent in this election theyíll still be in power, nothing will stop that, Kasrils told reporters at the campaignís launch at Wits University, Johannesburg, on Tuesday.

But what that signals... is that, my God you guys [ANC] better wake up... youíre not going to last for five years, youíre losing more and more respect.

Sibiya said former African National Congress leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and Chris Hani would turn in their graves at the mere suggestion that people should spoil their vote rather than vote for the ruling party.

I call upon all the Christians and all the people of South Africa, to totally ignore the call of Ronnie Kasrils and his company.
The vote we are exercising we fought for and many even paid the ultimate sacrifice,he said.
The Catholic Church urged people to vote as responsible citizens.
You will do this by voting and supporting those parties and organisations which work for the good of all our citizens, the Southern African Bishopsí Conference said in a statement.
Vote for political parties whose policies truly serve all our people, especially the poor and vulnerable.

DA hearing adjourned

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:05:54 +0000

Johannesburg - A hearing by the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) on the DAís advertisement complaint case against the SABC was adjourned on Tuesday night.

The hearing would resume on Wednesday to give the SABC more time to consult with its legal team, CCC chairperson Wandile Tutani said.
The committee was hearing arguments from the DA and the SABC regarding the pulling of a DA television advert which was paid for, after airing it only three times.

Ronnie Bokwa, for the SABC, said the advert was aired twice last Tuesday and once last Wednesday before it was taken off. The DA laid a complaint with Icasa after the SABC failed to broadcast its election advertisement.

The ìAyisafaniî TV advert was pulled off the air last week, along with five radio advertisements. The advert shows the DAís Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane, standing in front of a mirror talking about the current state of the country. He says life today is better than it was 20 years ago and gives credit to great leaders who he believes have taken the country forward. ìBut since 2008 weíve seen President Jacob Zumaís ANC. An ANC that is corrupt. An ANC for the connected few. An ANC that is taking us backwards. An ANC where more than 1.4 million people have lost jobs.î Maimane then asks Zuma where the jobs are.

Vavi campaigns for the ANC

admin@mbveloit.com (Moses Moyo) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:59:13 +0000

Johannesburg - Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is back to doing the trade union federationís work and campaigning for the ANC, its president Sidumo Dlamini said on Wednesday.

He is campaigning for the ANC. I'm sure you read his latest pronouncements in support of the ANC, he told reporters in Johannesburg.
Cosatu wants a decisive victory of the ANC come 7 May.

Dlamini was speaking at a joint press briefing by the Cosatu and the SA Communist Party. This followed a meeting between the two alliance partners.

Dlamini, deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali, and first deputy president Tyotyo James were present at the briefing, representing Cosatu. Vavi was not. Dlamini said Vavi was ill and that was the only reason he was not present.

Vavi returned to work at Cosatu last week after eight months of being on suspension. This followed the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburgís ruling setting aside his suspension. It was expected that the trade union federation would suspend Vavi again at its special central executive committee the day after his return last week. However, ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa managed to broker a ceasefire within Cosatu.

Dlamini said on Wednesday Vavi would participate in Cosatuís election campaign for the ANC. It is expected of all of us to be there,î he said.

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), which has been a strong Vavi ally and was instrumental in returning him to his position at the trade union federation, resolved last year not to support the ANC in
the 7 May 2014 election.

There have been reports that the metalworkers union, which is Cosatuís biggest affiliate, could start its own political party.