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“Tear down election posters and you’ll be thrown in jail,” warns SAPS

todayMay 17, 2024 145

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With a little more than a week to go before South Africans head to what has been dubbed as the country’s 1994 elections, the SAPS have issued a stern warning to the public.
The police say anyone caught removing and defacing posters published by a registered party will be arrested and criminally charged. Their warning is in accordance with the Electoral Act of 73 of 1998, which prohibits the unlawful removal and defacing of posters published by registered parties.
It was in reaction to a viral video of a 64-year-old woman from Sasolburg who caught on camera tampering with election posters.

Speaking to YNews, Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, said the elderly woman will be back in court on Wednesday.

The ANC in the Free States has slammed the incident as proof of deep hatred that some people harbour against the governing party, which can be linked to the former apartheid regime.
Speaking to YNews, ANC Free State spokesperson, Jabu Mbalula, urged people to take out their frustrations against any political party at the ballot box.
The 64-year-old’s tearing down of political party posters is not a new phenomenon, or an isolated incident.
Earlier this month, two men were arrested in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, for allegedly removing posters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), while in March ActionSA raised concern over the vandalism and theft of its election posters in various parts of Joburg.

Written by: Nokwazi Qumbisa

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