POLITICS

Swayimane: ANC meets delegation with pangas and insults - DA KZN

Sizwe Mchunu says community members intimidated, anti-DA flyers distributed ahead of visit

DA lays charges over ANC intimidation in Swayimane

The Democratic Alliance has laid charges of incitement and intimidation against ANC members and councillors who threatened a delegation led by DA Parliamentary Leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, with pangas and insults in Swayimane today.

We were on our way to meet with elderly women who had been the victims of a spate of rapes in the area in recent times. Women in the village are afraid to walk alone or be at home during the day.

We are led to believe that flyers had been distributed in the area prior to our visit stating that the DA must leave the area as the party does not care about the people there.

It appears that community members were intimidated by the councillor into not speaking with us.

I will request a meeting with ANC Provincial Chairperson, Zweli Mkhize, to discuss the conduct of his local members. There appears to be an increase of incidents of intimidation in KZN and this cannot be tolerated.

KZN cannot be a province of no-go zones. This is a constitutional democracy. 

As the opposition we have the right to enquire into the well-being of elderly residents in Swayimane.

The right to safety for women in Swayimane is severely compromised by the actions of men who have no regard for human dignity. 

I lost a brother who was gunned down in the area some years ago. The visit today was for the purpose of expressing solidarity with these women living under the most unbearable circumstances.

The DA hopes that the unfortunate scenes today draw enough attention to the plight of these women for the authorities to act by increasing safety in the area.

Statement issued by Sizwe Mchunu, DA KZN Leader, February 4 2013

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