ANC STATEMENT ON THE DA'S PLANNED MARCH

The African National Congress will today apply for a protective order at the South Gauteng High Court against the planned march to Chief Albert Luthuli House by the DA tomorrow.

This has been necessitated by information at our disposal which indicates that the DA has contracted a private security company that will be armed to form part of the march. In addition they have booked a hospital, procured helmets and shields, and organized emergency services to be on standby.  This clearly shows that they have no intention of conducting a peaceful political event.

The ANC is taking every measure possible to ensure that tomorrow passes off peacefully.  We have engaged with law enforcement agencies to ensure all appropriate measures are taken.

However the ANC needs to secure its head quarters, where its members/volunteers, staff and operations are busy working and preparing for the elections.  The application to South Gauteng High Court is to ensure that there is no potential for incidents of intimidation and provocation - including damage to property and injury to people-in and around our head quarters.

The march by the DA on the ANC head quarters- Chief Albert Luthuli House - is part of the desperate and high -risk stunts which the DA is resorting to in order to capture the political limelight.  We only need to look back a few days to see how desperate the DA has been in trying to capture some limelight with its failed attempted take over of Agang.

However this time the risks they are taking places ordinary people in danger. When they march with weapons and hired gunmen - they are taking us back to an era when violence and conflict defined our political environment.  We call on all South Africans to condemn this political stunt and to exercise their democratic right and vote on the 7th May 2014.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, February 11 2014

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