ANC's Mthembu must retract threats of violence against peaceful DA jobs march

The DA in Gauteng condemns ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu's threats of violence  against 6 000 DA supporters to be led by DA Leader Helen Zille in a peaceful march to highlight the failure of Jacob Zuma's ANC to cut corruption and create jobs.

Mthembu's remarks are reckless and irresponsible and he must retract them immediately.

Mthembu must also ensure that his party undertakes to guarantee that the DA's constitutional right to gather and protest will be respected, and that the DA Leader and supporters will be received peacefully in line with the hard-won rights and freedoms of our 20 year old democracy.

The DA has already guaranteed that the march will be peaceful and seeks to make the point a vote for Jacob Zuma's ANC is a vote for more unemployment.

Our march is about REAL jobs, and it will highlight Jacob Zuma's ANC has played in entrenching unemployment and destroying jobs for people in South Africa.

The DA will show the people of Gauteng, and indeed South Africa, that a vote for the DA is a vote for 6 million REAL jobs.

It is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy for a political party to threaten those who challenge them on the basis of their policies and their actions. The ANC must ensure that its spokesperson retract these statements today and advise their members that any violence will not be tolerated.

That is how responsible leaders lead their people.

Statement issued by John Moodey MPL, DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, January 23 2014

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