The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) on condemned political violence at local government level and announced it was relaunching street committees‚ which officials said would focus on water saving and food gardens. Sanco held its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of 2016 in Irene‚ Pretoria‚ at the weekend.Commenting on councillors’ nomination processes‚ Sanco general secretary Skhumbuzo Mpanza said in a statement: “The NEC has reconfirmed its uncompromising support for the wishes of our communities to be reflected in the outcome of the councillor nomination process. Communities are the ones that must take the centre stage and have the last say. The list of candidates nominated must reflect and show respect of their preferences.”“As the vanguard of our communities and the centre of influence‚ we are disappointed that the process has been marred by acts of violence‚ intimidation‚ disruptions and manipulation of nomination meetings.“We believe that the shameful acts are orchestrated by self-serving and ill-disciplined factionalists that seek to predetermine the outcome of the democratic processes to further their personal interests and not to advance community development agenda.”Mpanza called on the African National Congress (ANC) “as the leader of revolutionary alliance to probe all disruptions and take disciplinary action against disruptors in order to root out hooliganism”.“This must done without favour and fear‚” he said.This comes as a Business Day columnist on Monday stated: "There is a body of evidence suggesting that‚ on average‚ there is at least one political assassination a month in South Africa". Gareth van Onselen wrote further: "At local government level‚ democratic choice and death often sit side by side".Sanco also condemned violent protest action and destruction of public infrastructure including buildings‚ vehicles‚ statues and historic paintings at SA’s universities.“We are appealing to students at our institutions of higher education to resist the misdirection of their legitimate demand for transformation towards anarchy and lawlessness. They should isolate and marginalise those who seek to hold their education to ransom.“The destruction of valuable assets is a serious drawback that feeds into the agenda of forces that are only interested in deepening the crisis in the higher education sector as part of their regime change agenda.”Mpanza said Sanco also called on university managements to exercise restraint and not to respond in a manner that aggravates the situation. “Arrogance‚ intransigence and violent confrontations will not shape the future of our institutions of higher learning. A transformed higher education landscape will only be shaped through dialogue‚ compromise and consensus.”Mpanza announced Sanco’s NEC had resolved to embark on a campaign to educate communities about saving water‚ support the water leakages campaign‚ windmill and borehole resuscitation for water consumption for people and livestock in order to mitigate the effects of drought.“We have committed ourselves to encourage waste water recycling and improvement of water catchment before water gets into the sea to mitigate against drought conditions.“The Street committees that we are in the process of relaunching will among others be tasked to monitor implementation of food gardens in each and every yard.“In rural communities‚ we will work in partnership with traditional leaders and village committees to support Back to the Field (Masibuyele emasimini) projects to ensure food security and strive for emerging farmers to secure stalls at fruit and vegetable markets‚” Mpanza said...