MK Party Members Fined for Threatening to Halt Elections
MK Party members Visvin Reddy and Bonginkosi Khanyile have been fined R150,000 each by the Electoral Court after being found guilty of contravening the electoral code. Their threats to disrupt the elections if MK Party president Jacob Zuma was disqualified from contesting led to this ruling.
Electoral Commission's Application
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) applied to the court after the ANC flagged Reddy and Khanyile’s reckless statements to the commission. The threats were made amid concerns over Zuma’s eligibility to contest the elections due to his 2021 jail sentence, which constitutionally disqualified him from running for public office.
Threats Made by Reddy and Khanyile
In March, Reddy addressed party supporters, saying: “We are sending a loud and clear message that if these courts, which are sometimes captured, try to stop the MK, there will be anarchy in this country. There will be riots that have never been seen in this country. There will be no election. No South African will go to the polls if MK is not on the ballot.”
Khanyile echoed similar sentiments, stating, “The soldiers were defeated by the July 2021 unrest. Do you think you can stop MK? Unleash all police officers, and we will meet toe-to-toe.”
Judge Steyn's Judgment
Judge Esther Johanna Steyn found Reddy and Khanyile guilty of contravening four laws of the electoral code, including one which stipulates “no person may prevent anyone from exercising a right to vote.” Although she fined them R150,000 each, the order was suspended for five years.
The Fine and the Judgment
The IEC had requested a R200,000 fine, but Steyn did not agree, despite acknowledging that Reddy’s statements posed “serious threats of violence.” Steyn noted that Khanyile had already been punished by the party and intends to appeal the judgment, arguing it restricts his freedom of speech in upcoming municipal and national elections.
Implications for Future Elections
This ruling highlights the Electoral Court's stance on maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that threats of violence do not undermine democratic principles. It serves as a warning to political figures about the serious consequences of making reckless statements.
Optimized Images:
- Visvin Reddy and Bonginkosi Khanyile at the Electoral Court (Image of Reddy and Khanyile outside the court)
- Statements leading to fines (Image of a rally where the threats were made)
- Judge Esther Johanna Steyn (Image of Judge Steyn delivering the judgment)
- Impact on MK Party (Image of MK Party supporters during a protest)
References
