As protests engulfed townships in the Tshwane region on Tuesday‚ the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) has appealed to voters and political parties to respect the rule of law and rights of others. “We note with concern the current level of violence and intolerance in the run-up to the #2016MunicipalElections‚” the IEC wrote on its Twitter page - @IECSouthAfrica.“We remind you that a candidate list is an internal party matter which the Electoral Commission cannot get involved in.” Disgruntled African National Congress (ANC) members were believed to be protesting over the announcement that Thoko Didiza would be the party’s mayoral candidate for the capital city.Protesters went on the rampage on Monday night‚ blocking roads with burning tyres and rocks‚ and burning buses and trucks. There were also reports that shops were being looted.The protests continued on Tuesday.The areas said to be affected are Atteridgeville‚ Mamelodi‚ Soshanguve and Hammanskraal.There has been unhappiness over the ANC’s list nomination process in a number of provinces‚ including the Northern Cape‚ North West and Gauteng.Protestors in Seeiso Street now #TshwaneUnrest Atridgeville pic.twitter.com/BSWtyQDqB9 — Abigail Javier (@AbigailJavier_) June 21, 2016async Some community members protested outside Luthuli House earlier this month complaining that candidates had been imposed on them.There have also been a number of killings in KwaZulu-Natal‚ believed to be politically connected.Last month‚ leaders of the 13 political parties represented in the National Assembly signed the Electoral Code of Conduct ahead of the August 3 municipal election.The pledge they signed committed leaders to reinforcing tolerance of their opponents as they led their parties; to counselling and advising all candidates on their party lists; to promoting the ending of no-go areas for campaigns; to not using speech that would provoke other parties or the public; and to working together to achieve the objects and goals of the code of conduct.Earlier this month‚ the IEC said this year’s municipal elections would see a record number of political parties contesting the eight metropolitan municipalities‚ 205 local municipalities and 44 district councils.A total of 204 political parties submitted candidate lists by the commission’s deadline on June 2 – almost 69% more than the 122 which contested elections in 2011.The ANC has distanced itself from the violent protests in Tshwane‚ calling it “thuggery”.The governing party announced its list of mayoral candidates at the weekend‚ except for Tshwane.The party’s regional executive committee (REC) had tabled three names for the city‚ but the provincial executive committee (PEC) was not convinced. Didiza was a compromise candidate.Government has urged residents to choose dialogue instead of violence to resolve their dispute.Acting director-general of the Government Communication and Information System Donald Liphoko appealed for calm."Government appeals for calm in all areas around the City of Tshwane and the peaceful resolution of differences‚" he said.Liphoko warned that violence and damage to property and infringing on others’ rights and free movement would not be tolerated by law enforcement agencies.TMG Digital/BDlive..