THE National Freedom Party’s deputy chairman in KwaZulu-Natal,
Erickson Zungu, has challenged the ANC to hold a referendum on the death penalty.
Zungu was making his closing remarks during a debate called by his party concerning worries over the mounting crime in the province as discussed in the KZN legislature on Tuesday.
“Let us go to the people and get their opinion on the matter. It cannot be that 21 years into our democracy we are held ransom by criminals,” Zungu said.
The NFP’s call was endorsed by the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Minority Front, but the DA’s Sizwe Mchunu said the debate should not have been held at provincial level as it was a national issue.
He slammed transport, community safety and liaison MEC Willies Mchunu and KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni for allegedly failing the police.
Mchunu said the death penalty was cruel and the ruling party would not endorse it. He said there was no evidence that crime would decrease if the death penalty was enforced.
“We cannot return to a primitive era where the state kills its own people. It would be sad if a country renowned as the stronghold of human rights returned to the death penalty.”
The MEC added that murder was high in KZN as it faced the challenge of political killings and faction fighting.
He said police were doing a good job of arresting criminals and expressed worry over the public outrage when police killed criminals.
“We are not supporting the killing of unarmed civilians, but when police kill armed criminals they are criticised,” said Mchunu.
He urged all parties to join the fight against crime.
EFF legislature member Vusi Khoza said attacks on police officers were the end result of residents’ anger.
The IFP’s Nhlanhla Msimang said that the police should kill imigodoyi (“the dogs”), and he congratulated them over the killing of a gang in Greytown last week.