DA refers mayor to Ekurhuleni Ethics and Integrity Committee over ‘war talk’
The DA has strongly condemned Ekurhuleni mayor, Mzwandile Masina’s 'threats' at the Chris Hani Memorial Lecture yesterday.
The DA has labelled these threats, directed at the growing mass action against Jacob Zuma, as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
The lecture was held at the Boksburg Civic Centre.
According to Ghaleb Cachalia, DA leader of the opposition in Ekurhuleni, the threats violate the law and the constitution, which guarantees the rights to peaceful protest.
The mayor on Monday night reportedly warned white people and the civil organisation Save SA that things might get “very very rough”.
This follows last Friday marches against President Jacob Zuma’s recent Cabinet reshuffle, including one organised by Save SA in Pretoria, that were held throughout the country.
The mayor reportedly said that a very strong warning be send that any individual who stands [in the way of] the project of nation building and social cohesion in South Africa will be crushed.
“The DA has today referred the mayor Masina to the Ekurhuleni Ethics and Integrity Committee, for this ‘war talk’ and we are calling for these threats to be investigated, and for sanctions to be imposed,” said Cachalia.
“He used a platform at the Chris Hani Memorial Lecture, and an Ekurhuleni-branded event, to make these threats and as such he must be investigated in his official capacity.
“This is the talk of a military strongman, not of a democratic mayor. Such talk has no place, whatsoever, in our constitutional democracy, if Masina respects the constitution at all.
“The mayor used the most reprehensible terms to describe how he believes opposition to Zuma should be dealt with: it should be ‘crushed’, and reprisal would be ‘very, very rough’.
“Masina’s threats violate the law and the constitution, which guarantees the rights to peaceful protest.”
Cachalia said the DA has written to the Ekurhuleni Speaker, Alderman Patricia Kumalo, to launch this investigation with the Ethics and Integrity Committee.
“We are also considering laying criminal charges against the mayor for incitement to violence and intimidation. We expect a swift investigation and sanction against the mayor.”
- Tomorrow a National Day of Action is planned to oppose the current government. Opposition parties are expected to take a collective stand against President Jacob Zuma. This coincides with Zuma’s 75th birthday.
