Political tolerance is critical to ensure sustainability of our democracy

A cornerstone of democracy is that citizens are willing to tolerate the expression of political opinions different to their own.

Political parties across the spectrum have recently signed an agreement to promote political tolerance, particularly in the build-up to the upcoming elections.

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairwoman, Pansy Tlakula, has remarked that “the fact that the defacing of political posters is still trending and sometimes encouraged by some political leaders shows a high level of political intolerance and this needs to be given a strong condemnation”. DA Premier of the Western Cape Helen Zille recently tweeted “I love it when poster cartoonists get going” referring to a tampered ANC political poster. Most people viewed this tweet as both distasteful (as it seemed to condone political hooliganism) and hypocritical, as the party plans to prosecute individuals who are caught deliberately defacing, removing or tampering with their election posters.

The Daily Maverick estimates there has been around 59 “political assassinations” in the past five years, with KZN described as the epicenter of violence. The formation of the National Freedom Party (NFP) by the former chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, has also intensified the level of political turmoil in the province, with NFP members most often targeted.

Tlakula, says “there is always a surge of “political assassinations” during the build-up to elections, especially in no-go areas around KwaZulu Natal and this needs to be addressed as it poses a threat to our hard-fought democracy".

At the local level there has been a decline in political tolerance as a number of ward councilors and their rivals have been murdered across the country in the lead-up to by-elections. There have also been cases of minority party supporters being publicly assaulted, intimidated or their houses torched.

It is not surprising that political intolerance has been accompanied by violence, especially in a polarised society such as South Africa where in the past, violence was normalised as a justified means of resolving conflict or difference. Political leaders are nevertheless duty-bound to play a crucial role in promoting this tolerance among their supporters.