DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate Dr Isak Fritz.
Kimberley
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape said it was honoured to have been part of the IEC’s Code of Conduct signing in Kimberley recently and has publicly pledged its commitment towards a free and fair election. The party was represented by its Northern Cape Premier Candidate Dr Isak Fritz.
In a statement the DA said it will always stand up to safeguard South Africa’s hard-earned democracy. Dr Isak Fritz said, “We also recognize that free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy, placing a massive responsibility on the IEC to maintain a level playing field amongst competing political parties. Even more so, given that the 2024 Election is the most critical election in the country’s history since 1994.
“For the first time, the ANC in the Northern Cape looks set to slip under 50% of the vote and lose its majority. A multitude of new parties are also attempting to stake their claim in the political landscape. Together with the IEC, we should all be on high alert for increasingly desperate attempts by some to cling to power and the unscrupulous tactics used by others to try and gain a foothold in the province’s political landscape.”
Dr Fritz has warned against actions such as the removal and destruction of political party posters, the blatant spread of disinformation about political parties on online platforms, false allegations made against high profile members of political parties with the sole intention of discrediting political parties.
He further showed dissatisfaction over what he called orchestrated sowing of divisions between different race and cultural groups to serve wicked agendas including the failure by political parties to declare donations and the abuse of state resources for political gain. ’There is no place in our democracy for political parties that willfully flout the rule of law to get a leg up on their opposition.’
The DA has appealed for upscaled and equal policing of the actions of all political parties in the Northern Cape. This must be in addition to firm consequence management in cases where political parties are found to have violated the code of conduct. According to the DA this is important so that voters are not misled into wasting their votes or placing the future of this province and country, into the hands of false prophets.
“On 29 May, voters will be coming out to the polls in good faith, with the understanding that their vote is their power and that it can make a difference. This should not be a pipedream but a guarantee to achieving a better future for South Africa,” concluded Dr Fritz.
