Cape Town – Supporters of the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, particularly women, have expressed that they felt safer under former president Jacob Zuma.
The MK party, in its election manifesto launched at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, pledged to increase police funding and hold a referendum on the death penalty to combat crime.
Since Zuma’s resignation in 2018, police statistics show increases in murder, sexual offences, and rape.
According to EWN, supporters like Lerato Motsepe and Phindile Ntobe believe that gender-based violence and crime have worsened under current leadership, attributing better conditions and lower crime rates to Zuma’s presidency.
“When Nxamalala [Zuma’s clan name] was in charge, there is a lot I can count that was better. The level of crime was not as high as it is now and do you know why? A lot of people were able to go to work and put food on the table,” the report quoted Ntobe as saying.
South Africa is set to go to the polls on 29 May.
The MK Party recently saw a slight improvement, securing 1.41% of votes in a by-election in Madibeng, North West, compared to 0.78% in previous Eastern Cape by-elections.
MK PARTY SMASHED IN BY-ELECTION
A big by-election was held yesterday in Ward 1 Madibeng in Bojanala North West, Jacob Zuma aligned MK Party received a paltry 1% of the votes. This number is an indication of what will happen to MK Party in North West province. Absolute carnage.… pic.twitter.com/ORjVig5jQl
— Goolam (@goolammv) May 16, 2024
The elections were held on Wednesday.
Despite this, the governing ANC retained control of Madibeng municipality’s Ward 1 with 70% of the vote.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
