Johnathan Paoli
Financial services provider and holding company, FirstRand Group, has warned of the possibility of acts of violence by supporters of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party during and after the upcoming national and provincial elections because of former President Jacob Zuma’s exclusion from contesting in the elections.
The group compiled an internal memo as a medium risk level, which was leaked to the media this week, and warned about a high risk for intimidation, malicious damage to property, arson, barricading of roads, looting, hijacking of trucks as well as clashes between supporters of the MK party, opposing political parties and with authorities should demonstrations take place.
Three provinces have been identified as possible hot-spots, namely KwaZulu-Natal and to a lesser extent Gauteng and Mpumalanga due to the respective support bases in those regions.
In addition, areas across the other provinces were named, due to the support Zuma himself could possibly enjoy there.
“The situation will be monitored and updated accordingly,” the notice concluded.
These assessments are shared with the operating entities on an ongoing basis to ensure frontline staff are fully informed and equipped to service customer needs and ensure business continuity.
The Constitutional Court unanimously ruled on Monday that Zuma is not eligible to contest the elections until five years have passed following the lapse of his 15 months sentence for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission into State Capture.
MK has condemned the FirstRand security notice however, with party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndlela, saying it was clearly motivated by political influence.
“We know that FNB, let’s not forget, is the same institution that closed president Zuma’s bank account,” Ndlela said.
First National Bank (FNB) announced in March the closure of bank accounts associated with Zuma, citing their connection to funds from the controversial VBS Mutual Bank.
Ndlela said the party has no reason to incite violence, has officially accepted the ConCourt judgement and that the party would be contesting the elections with Zuma’s face on the ballot.
The FirstRand alert comes after another report compiled by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime, which found that KwaZulu-Natal remained one of the most violent provinces, in relation to political assassination and intolerance.
The report found the emergence of the MK party has added further complications to an already volatile situation in the province, which has seen campaigns by the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
KZN MEC for transport, community safety and liaison, Sipho Hlomuka confirmed on Monday that measures were being put in place to monitor kwaNongoma and other parts of the province, due to the high levels of violence.
“This is one area that has of late, been experiencing the killing of councillors and it is one of the declared hotspot areas. While most of these challenges can be attributed to dynamics in the local government, we will leave nothing to chance,” Hlomuka said.
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