ANC must act to stop the threats

THE prospects of next year’s general election being as peaceful as those that have preceded post-1994 are becoming increasingly less likely as tensions continue to mount within the warring factions of the ANC. This should be a cause for grave concern within the ruling party yet there has been no sign that meaningful action will be taken to rebuke supporters who threaten violence or worse on political foes. This week at a meeting in Gauteng called by ANC rebel and former cabinet minister Mosiuoa Lekota, rival supporters of Jacob Zuma carried inflammatory placards and chanted “kill Lekota” while those who had come to hear what he had to say were assaulted by thugs carrying pro-Zuma placards.

Other members of Lekota’s breakaway faction have also reported death threats since revealing they intended leaving the ANC.

This is not the way democracy works and the onus is on the ruling party hierarchy – particularly Jacob Zuma himself – to condemn this dangerous political intolerance in the strongest terms possible. This needs to be taken right down to branch level so that the rank and file are made aware that those who intimidate, threaten or commit violent acts against members of other political persuasions bring their own party into disrepute and endanger the long-term future of the very country itself.

To his credit Lekota appealed to his supporters not to respond to the threats but we fear that there will come a time that some may indeed react to attacks which could snowball into full-scale internecine warfare.

It is perplexing why Zuma remains silent when his followers constantly threaten violence which does not bode well for a peaceful run-up to the 2009 elections. It is in his power to prevent bloodshed by showing leadership and condemning violence and intimidation.

However, by his quiet acceptance of threats made by his supporters – chief among them ANC Youth League president Julius Malema who vowed to “kill for Zuma” and threatened to “eliminate” the ANC’s political foes – he creates the impression that he condones this thuggish behaviour. Perhaps he does.

Enough blood has been shed in the name of politics in this country. We can afford no more.

History will judge the ANC extremely harshly if the party which fought so hard for peace and freedom becomes synonymous with political intolerance, violence and intimidation – actions which have no place in a true democracy.

Currie Cup humdinger

THE Currie Cup final in Durban today will come as a blessed relief for rugby fans after weeks of unnecessary turmoil and political meddling in the sport.

Not for the first time South African rugby has been in the news for all the wrong reasons and sadly it has little to do with the sport or the players – the nauseous Luke Watson excluded.

Given the ruling party’s desperation to divert attention from its own inadequacies with regard to improving sports facilities and opportunities in disadvantaged areas, we can expect rugby to remain in the political spotlight. After all it is the one sport where the country really excels so it stands to reason some politicians will feel duty-bound to interfere.

But hopefully all that can be forgotten when the Sharks and the Bulls line up to contest what is still this country’s major feature match, outside Test rugby.

It is an encounter which will feature most of the country’s top players – there are an astonishing 25 international players either starting or on the bench.

The odds are that the majority of the Springbok squad to be announced after the game will be playing in this match so it promises to be a real humdinger in the great traditions of Currie Cup rugby.

Opinion