MK Party disciplines Visvin Reddy for inciting electoral violence
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party says it’s taken action against senior party leader Visvin Reddy, who appeared in court on Wednesday after he was charged with inciting violence by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Reddy faces charges of contravening Section 17 of the Riotous Assemblies Act, where he is alleged to have incited public violence. In a video clip that went viral on social media, Reddy said this country will be turned into a civil war the day MK is not allowed to campaign and to be on the ballot paper.
Charged MK KZN senior member Visvin Reddy says 27 April is not the Freedom Day and May 29 will be real Freedom day in SA @DailyNewsSA pic.twitter.com/Mj28HkcPxj
— Willem phungula (@PhungulaWillem) April 3, 2024
‘MEMBERS WHO INCITE VIOLENCE WILL BE DEALTH WITH,’ SAYS MK Party
“We are sending a loud and clear message that if these courts, which are sometimes captured if they stop MK, there will be anarchy in this country. There will be riots like you’ve never seen in this country. There’ll be no election. No South African will go the polls if MK is not on the ballot paper,” Reddy warned.
The Citizen reported that before Reddy’s court appearance, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela told 702 that members who incite violence would be disciplined.
“Any member that utters or makes any pronouncements of violence will be dealt with drastically, and we’ll expel them. Visvin Reddy in the same way we’ve dealt with [MK youth leader] Bonginkosi [Khanyile] has also received a warning,” said Ndhlela.
NEXT COURT APPEARANCE FOR REDDY IN JUNE
Meanwhile, NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara told the publication that Reddy appeared in court on a summons, and the matter was transferred to the Durban Regional Court for the next appearance on 14 June 2024.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said, after the video went viral, that Reddy’s threat of violence would face arrest.
“I just want to make it very clear to anyone who is threatening any form of unrest that they will be followed up and arrested. Those are people who belong in jail. Those are people who are the enemies of our democracy,” said Ramaphosa.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES BY GCINA NTSALUBA