Dancing and selfies as parties commit to Electoral Code of Conduct
A scene of celebration commenced when representatives of 13 political parties committed to the Electoral Code of Conduct for the upcoming municipal elections. Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chair Glen Mashinini jived to the 2016 election song and political leaders posed for a selfie as the meeting drew to a close in Midrand‚ Johannesburg.The pledge signed by the parties' representatives commits leaders to:- Reinforce a culture of tolerance towards all other parties contesting elections - Effectively ... advise all candidates on their party lists [to] propagate a message of maximum tolerance - Publically promote the eradication of no-go areas of political campaigns by political parties - Desist from using speech or participating in actions which will have the effect of provoking … acts of intolerance or any other inflammatory actions - Work together to achieve the objects and goals of the Code of ConductBut the revelry was short-lived as some criticised the ruling party and President Jacob Zuma after proceedings wrapped up.The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane said that parties had abused state resources‚ “whether those are food parcels [or] whether those are using the state broadcaster ...”Before signing the pledge Maimane said that two “threats” to fair and free elections were not addressed by it - one being the use of state resources by a particular party for political patronage.Magdelene Moonsamy of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said "we have a criminal for a president".“The president ... said that South Africa is the only state that he is aware of which does not run its own economy. That says a lot about ... his lack of ability to lead the state and its finances‚ and the economy for that matter‚” she said.Representatives from the Congress of the People‚ the Inkatha Freedom Party‚ the United Democratic Movement‚ the African Christian Democratic Party and the Vryheidsfront Plus and others also signed the pledge.More parties will join in signing the pledge in various provinces‚ Mashinini said...
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