SACP Gauteng applauds ANC-led Alliance for successful voter registration in Bekkersdal and Bronkhorspruit

8 February 2014

SACP Gauteng commends the sterling and excellent work done by the ANC led Alliance to ensure a successful voter registration over the weekend in the two areas that were severely affected by violent service delivery protests in Gauteng province, namely Bekkersdal in the west, and Bronkhorspruit in the east.

In Bronkhorspruit, the ANC led Alliance led by comrades Solly Mapaila, SACP 2nd Deputy General Secretary, and David Makhura, ANC Provincial Secretary, successfully managed to ensure smooth and peaceful voter registration especially on the second day, Sunday, 09th February 2014. This was preceded by a round of robust and intense negotiations the previous day with community leaders. Community leaders in this area demonstrated and proved beyond doubt, their absolute confidence in the leadership of the ANC led Alliance. Voter registration was not allowed to proceed in this area on the first day of voter registration.

SACP is convinced that through this intervention, a firm and solid foundation has now been laid for normal community activities and stability to return to the area this morning. This will include activities such as learning and teaching, and return to work by workers.

Red Ants

In Bekkersdal, normal voter registration that had commenced very well in the morning of the first day of voter registration was severely disrupted by the regrettable and unfortunate deployment of the notorious Red Ants to “clean” the area on days earmarked for last voter registration period during the weekend of 08th and 09th February 2014.

Community members violently clashed with the Red Ants, an extremely controversial paramilitary business-entity that has a terrible track record on its treatment of working class and poor people especially during land and housing evictions.

This regrettable incident led to immediate closure of certain voter registration stations by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Following swift action and intervention by the ANC province, the Red Ants were immediately removed from Bekkersdal, thus paving the way for a successful voter registration the following day, Sunday, 09th February 2014.

SACP calls on community leaders in these two areas, as in many others, to continue to engage the ANC-led Alliance to resolve their problems and challenges dating back to more than 350 years of colonialism, oppression and exploitation.

Victory

SACP commend the high level of confidence shown by our people, the working and poor in the leadership of the African National Congress and its Alliance partners, and firmly believe that the revolutionary movement of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, led by President Jacob Zuma, is firmly on track for a decisive and landslide election victory on the 7th May 2014.

SACP strongly believe that only through the unity of the revolutionary Alliance, as opposed to opportunistic and competing parallel tendencies, can we move our province, its communities and people forward as clearly articulated in the most historic, comprehensive and dynamic ANC Election Manifesto.

Issued on behalf of the SACP Gauteng Province

Contact:

Mamabolo Jacob: Provincial Secretary: 082 884 1868
Lucian Segami: Provincial Spokesperson: 079 522 0098