‘Zuma must fall campaign can only polarise society’: ANC

18 January 2016 - 13:07 By TMG Digital

The African National Congress (ANC) called for “war on racism”‚ described the “Zuma must fall” calls as “uninformed”‚ but did not comment on accusations of hate speech being levelled against one of its members of Parliament. The ruling party‚ in a statement‚ said it “calls on all South Africans to declare war on racism and for political parties to refrain from undermining democracy through calls that undermine a democratic outcome”.Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa’s release came after ANC supporters on Saturday removed a billboard saying “Zuma must fall’‚ a day after it mysteriously appeared on the side of a building in the centre of Cape Town.Kodwa said: “The uninformed call that President Zuma must fall are a ploy to divert a real conversation on racism that finds expression in the comments of a minority belonging to a particular party that is intent of achieving the impossible return to a racist past.”He‚ however‚ made no mention of a call by its MP Bongani Mkongi posted on Facebook: “Join the ANC in Cape Town today at 14h00 to burn down the billboard saying 'ZumaMustFall'. The billboard must not be lifted down‚ but‚ burnt down."When it was pointed out that the people inside the apartment “will burn to death”‚ Mkongi replied: "They must burn to death as it is life for them to keep it that way."The Congress of the People on Monday called for Mkongi’s arrest and prosecution for “incitement to violence‚ arson and the possibility of murder”‚ while the Democratic Alliance (DA) has reported his behaviour to Parliament’s ethics committee saying it is “tantamount to hate speech”.Kodwa said that it “is incumbent on all South Africans and particularly political formations that we undermine the scourge of racism that reduced our country to a pariah in the standing of nations and a symbol of backward race relations”.“It is evident that this campaign which is privately sponsored by particular formations can only polarise society resulting in strained relations amongst our people.”The DA was widely thought to have been responsible for erecting the banner‚ but denied doing so.The City of Cape Town has said it was illegally put up and whoever was responsible faced prosecution and a possible fine.“Let us in our diversity embrace democratic principles and practices. Our failure to rise to the occasion will result in history judging some amongst us harshly‚” said Kodwa.“The message‚ judging from recent events‚ is clear that South Africans will not tolerate foreign behavior by those seeking to reverse our hard won struggles. We encourage our people to undertake an active campaign against racism and those who want to water down democratic values.”Mkongi later apologised...

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