Political parties signed the Electoral Code of Conduct at a ceremony at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng, in preparation for the 2011 municipal elections on 13 April 2011.
The pledge reads as follows:
Preamble
We the undersigned, leaders of political parties recognise that South Africa is a democratic and constitutional state premised on the principles of regular elections and multi-partyism.
We accept that elections require an environment wherein there is free political activity, where all political parties are able to canvass support without fear or hindrance.
We recognise that democracy development in our country partly depends on the ability of voters to hear different political opinions as espoused by various parties and thus enable citizens to exercise the franchise on an informed basis.
We note that free and fair elections is the only legitimate basis on which the authority to govern is derived.
We acknowledge that the Electoral Commission is mandated to ensure free and fair elections of legislative bodies.
We acknowledge that political parties and candidates participating in the national and provincial elections in 2011 are obliged to observe all provisions of the Electoral Code of Conduct, which is binding on those participating parties, their candidates, members and supporters.
Statement of commitment
The political parties gathered on this 13th day of March in the year 2011 in Midrand, Gauteng commit themselves to uphold the underlying values and conduct required by the Electoral Code of Conduct and to which they hereby pledge to adhere.
Further pledge
To underscore this commitment, leaders of the undersigned parties pledge:
1. To lead their parties in a manner that will reinforce a culture of tolerance towards all other parties contesting elections.
2. To effectively counsel and advise all candidates on their party lists so that each candidate will in turn propagate a message of maximum tolerance
3. To publicly promote the eradication of no-go areas for political campaigns by political parties.
4. To desist from using speech or from participating in actions which will have the effect of provoking either parties’ supporters or members of the general public to commit acts of intolerance or take other inflammatory actions.
5. That participating parties will work together to achieve the object and goals of the Code of Conduct.
All parties contesting two and more municipalities in the elections were invited to the ceremony for the Signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct which resulted in 28 parties being invited. Of the 28 parties the following party leaders or their representatives signed the pledge and committed their parties and supporters to abide by the spirit of the Code:
- African Christian Alliance-Afrikaner Christen Alliansie
- African Christian Democratic Party
- African Independent Congress
- African National Congress
- African People’s Convention
- Al Jama-ah
- Azanian People’s Organisation
- Black Consciousness Party
- Congress of the People
- Democratic Alliance/Demokratiese Alliansie
- Federal Congress
- Independent Ratepayers Association of SA
- Inkatha Freedom Party
- Movement Democratic Party
- National Freedom Party
- Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
- Pan Africanist Movement
- South African Progressive Civic Organisation
- United Christian Democratic Party
- United Democratic Movement
- United Residents Front
- Vryheidsfront Plus
In the draw for the first position on the ballot paper, African Independent Congress came up first. The African Independent Congress will appear first on ballot papers in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Information on parties and candidates contesting the 2011 municipal elections is available on the IEC website, www.elections.org.za.
For media quiries, please contact:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
For media interviews, please email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za
