The Democratic Alliance (DA) supports the right to strike as not only a constitutional right of all South Africans, but also a vital part of our democratic state. However, that right cannot be exercised in a manner that infringes upon the rights of others.

The statement by Eugene Hadebe, head of Transport Alliance, in which he warns that "Their [employers] vehicles will go up in flames. We are warning them" is a blatant incitement to violence.

We call upon the South African Police Service to investigate all calls to engage in acts of intimidation and violence and to be on full alert to ensure that violence is not allowed to prevent other South Africans from going to work or choosing not to participate in any strike action.

The South African Democratic Teachers Union recently made threats of violence in opposition to proposals from the Department of Education; this is just one example of a growing trend in the Tripartite Alliance in which leaders and other senior officials - such as the SACP's Zwelinzima Vavi, and the ANC Youth League's Julius Malema - casually threaten violence in order to further their interests. Such behaviour cannot be condoned in a democratic state and, if this trend is allowed to continue unhindered, it will sow the seeds of anarchy.

We are still reeling from the recent brutal xenophobic attacks as well as the images of Johannesburg Metro police officers shooting at members of the SAPS - we simply cannot afford to risk any further outbreaks of violence.

The police need to take decisive action against those making public calls for violent acts, and ensure that they are appropriately charged and brought before the courts without delay. Furthermore, any act of violence that is perpetrated on the back of such calls should be rigorously and speedily dealt with.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, Democratic Alliance spokesperson for safety & security, July 9 2008