The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the North West calls for calm and peace following service delivery demonstrations and interruptions of special votes processes.

On Monday the police arrested six people for torching an electoral officer's vehicle in Ganyesa. In Ikageng a ballot box was burnt in a voting tent.

It was reported that Tlhakajeng Primary School was allegedly burned down over the weekend by people who were boycotting the elections due to service delivery issues.

The DA strongly condemns any acts of vandalism and any interruptions of voting processes.

The DA calls on community members to remain calm and allow people to exercise their democratic right to vote.

We are however extremely suspicious about the uproar of protests across the North West and cannot help to suspect the ANC infighting to be a trigger for the burning, breaking and looting in some of our communities.

Some of these protests in our neighbouring provinces seem to stem from the self-interests of a politically connected few and we are now left to wonder if they are not flared by a faction within the ANC in North West.

The only way we can address service delivery concerns and bring change to the North West is to use this opportunity and vote out the failing and corrupt ANC government.

The DA calls on the IEC and SAPS to monitor and to protect voting processes and ensure that elections go on without further interruptions.

On 8 May 2019 people should give change a chance. The DA is ready to bring change that will stop corruption and speed up service delivery.

Issued by The DA