DEAR Editor,-
Election time again raises the conflation of state and ANC resources on the road to the polls. It was reported in a Durban newspaper last week that an ANC candidate ward councillor in Durban has the use of municipal vehicles when campaigning for votes.
Last week the leader of the Democratic Alliance, Mmusi Maimane, visited Port Shepstone and its environs.
During the course of his visit, a large truck was observed with people wearing ANC T-shirts distributing food parcels to members of the public in a feeble attempt to curry favour with locals and to diminish the dominant profile of the DA and its leader.
In another event last week, three bakkies branded with ANC paraphenalia drove north down Uplands Road in Margate, playing loud music and with several young women in each vehicle exhorting the public to vote for the ANC.
There is clearly nothing wrong with this, after all there is an election on, but in this instance, the bakkies were accompanied by several municipal traffic vehicles joining in the procession – to give it more effect.
Ever mindful of the proximity of the municipal elections, the mayor of Ugu District Council notified all councillors that there were to be seven water project handovers and sod-turning ceremonies in July in Hibiscus Coast, Umzumbe and Vulamehlo. It has been common practice to serve refreshments and to turn the events into mini-ANC rallies.
Can elections be free and fair in the face of such connivance?
CLLR DAVE SNASHALL
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