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On escalating train violence:

The NEC notes with concern the escalating violence and arson attacks on commuter rail services across the country. The spate of train attacks have become an epidemic and must be dealt with decisively and perpetrators must be brought to book.

These attacks on our railway networks affect mostly the poor who rely heavily on the services of Metrorail/Prasa to commute to work.

In the past few months we have witnessed attacks and the derailment of Metrorail services in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and most notably, Cape Town in the Western Cape.

The NEC urgently calls for the deployment of additional SAPS officers at all Metrorail/Prasa stations in order to curb violent and aggressive attacks on commuters and railway staff. If need be, the SANDF may be able to play an assisting role to increase visible policing at major connecting stations.

It is clear that there is no effective policing and security strategy in place to address the escalating violence at attacks on our trains.

The Minister of Transport together with the Security Cluster portfolios in the Executive must work together to find a suitable and effective strategy to put an end to this scourge.

On contesting by-elections:

We encourage all residents and IFP supporters in the various wards in Mthonjaneni, Richards Bay and Chatsworth to vote for their respective IFP local councillor candidates in the upcoming by-elections this Wednesday, 3 October 2018.

The IFP has consistently won a number of by-elections this year, and it is our hope that we will win back these wards on Wednesday.

Our candidates are selected on merit and must subscribe to committing to serve the people in their wards with utmost integrity and fast track service delivery where possible and in their reach.

As we approach the upcoming 2019 National General Election, these by-elections are of particular importance and are a much better indicators of voter support, sentiment and party growth than any other survey or polls could possibly predict.

On President Cyril Ramphosa’s irresponsible comments:

The NEC notes and cautions President Cyril Ramaphosa on his reckless and irresponsible comments to international media on the farm murder issue in our country.

It is irresponsible for the Head of State and the Executive to make such utterances when only a few weeks ago the farm murder and attack were reported by the Minister of Police to Parliament.

President Ramphosa’s wholesale denial of the matter is telling and does not befit the decorum of a Head of State.

He would do well to reassure the international community that his ANC government has effectively failed but are working to solve the problem.

We are well aware that the President is trying to lure international investment, but dismissing the plight of a minority people and telling “lies” is no way to attract said investment.

On the Moerane Commission Report:

The NEC today received copies of the Moerane Commission Report and will study the findings together with the remedial action recommended by the commission.

The IFP will apply itself to the report and provide feedback on this pressing matter in due course.

On service delivery in Nyanga, Cape Town:

We wish to express our collective disdain at the DA-run City of Cape Town which has neglected residents of Nyanga Township for far too long.

On an oversight visit a few weeks ago, IFP MPs together with supporters conducted a walking tour of the area and were shown various issues which the City have blatantly ignored.

Moreover, residents complained about service delivery that seems to have come to a halt and social issues are also neglected or shrugged off by officials. This despite Nyanga being one of the murder capitals in our country.

We call for the speedy delivery of basic services and social services as the community is in desperate need of upliftment.

Issued by IFP