By: Natasha Archary
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sasria, Mpumi Tyikwe and political analyst Dr Kagiso “TK” Pooe join Ayanda Nyathi to unpack the possibility of unrests due to the upcoming elections.
While Tyikwe expressed there are no immediate concerns of violence around the upcoming elections on 29 May, the volatility of the current climate during the electioneering campaigns is being monitored.
The introduction of uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK Party) not only threatens decades of ANC dominance but changes the entire risk assessment.
However, Tyikwe says the country is well prepared to deal with possible threats of unrest and disruptions.
“The short answer is that we are not concerned about violence around the election period. Generally if you have to go back to the last 6 national and provincial elections that we’ve had, South Africa has demonstrated that it’s ready to run a free and fair election.
There are certain challenges with this particular election but overall I think South Africans will behave.
From top of my mind, I know that one of those challenges is that we are going to have a lot more parties, and independent candidates this year.
Another concern is the possible coalitions that will form and how these will change the landscape ahead of the elections.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sasria, Mpumi Tyikwe believes there’s no cause for concern around the elections
While Tyikwe is optimistic that we will have a smooth election, Dr Pooe highlighted that the spate of politically motivated killings this year cannot be ignored.
“I’d also look at it in the longer term, from November 2023, there have been between 50 and 56 politically linked killings targeting councillors and 105 or 106 individuals who worked for government.
The idea of political violence in South Africa is coming up more often for me, and I question how is it that we’ve allowed violence and political violence to become a norm?”
Dr Kagiso “TK” Pooe says political violence is becoming a norm
WATCH: The full discussion where a panel unpacks the possibility of unrests due to upcoming elections
In March, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned any person who is threatening election unrest that they will be arrested.
This after members of the newly formed MK Party sparked threats of unrest if the party is not allowed on the ballot this year.
After the IEC announced that former President Jacob Zuma will not be allowed to run for office due to his 2021 prison term, the MK Party have filed an appeal against the decision.
Also read: MK Party files appeal against IEC decision on Zuma
