Political intolerance recently sparked concern after violence occurred in northern Zululand in the KwaZulu-Natal province amongst supporters of the ANC and the IFP. There have also been reports of conflict between the ANC and COPE.

With political campaigns occurring throughout the country in preparation for the national and provincial elections due to take place during 2009, the principles of political tolerance have to be adhered to by all members of society.

The Electoral Code of Conduct promotes conditions that are conducive to free and fair elections, including tolerance of democratic political activity, free political campaigning, and open public debate.

South Africa is a multi-party democracy in which citizens have the right to choose which political parties they to support. An opposition is not the enemy. Political intolerance discourages citizens for practising their democratic right to vote without fear or prejudice.

It is clear from all party manifestos that have been published for the 2009 general elections that South Africans have a common goal, to combat poverty and inequality in South Africa.

The municipal outreach project seeks to assist in achieving political tolerance through the provision of a wide range of information about socio-economic issues that affect all South Africans, regardless of their party affiliation.

The project will make available information to all municipal councillors and officials within the eight municipalities in the project – the Nelson Mandela Bay, Ekurhuleni, City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, eThekwini, and the City of Cape Town metropolitans; as well as the Capricorn and Motheo district municipalities.

Information will be available through the project website, where a weekly newsletter; extracts of a monthly Fast Facts for Local Government (F3LG), and an annual South Africa Survey published by the South African Institute of Race Relations will be posted. These publications will also be posted or e-mailed to the beneficiaries who represent all political parties in South Africa.

Councillors and officials from all political parties, and development organisations within the eight municipalities will have the opportunity to discuss poverty challenges within their municipalities at the Major Urban Poverty Challenges Identification (MUPCI) workshops to take place during this year at each of the eight municipalities. The Urban Poverty Intervention workshops will take place during the following year, and will explore policy interventions appropriate to the challenges identified in the MUPCI workshops. The Anti Poverty Intervention Implementation Proposals workshops will take place during the third year, and the municipal councillors and officials, and development organisations will jointly formally propose the policy interventions identified in the first two years, and identify the most effective means to implement the policy recommendations.

-Nthamaga Kgafela