People vandalising the controversial billboard put up by the DA in Johannesburg's CBD, 17 January 2019. Picture: Screengrab
The ANC has lodged an official complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) against the DA. This is regarding the DA’s “The ANC is killing us” billboard which was attacked on Thursday by an unknown number of people.
The ruling party criticised the DA and said they were using shock tactics as a form of electioneering. The IEC’s chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo confirmed the complaint and said the matter was before their national party liaison committee.
The DA’s billboard was unveiled on Wednesday and had the names of those who died in the Marikana massacre and the Life Esidimeni victims. It was torn down on Thursday after the DA made it clear they found the ANC responsible for the senseless deaths.
On Thursday, the ANC did make it clear they intended on taking the matter up with appropriate forums provided in the country’s electoral laws. They said they were concerned that the conduct of the DA “flies in the face of the Electoral Code of Conduct as it was nothing short of spreading deliberate lies about” the ANC.
They also described the DA as showing their levels of desperation.
“This is a party whose politics have become toxic, who believe that fear mongering and spreading lies will frighten voters to support them at the upcoming elections.”
The ANC’s acting national spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa, said it would be irresponsible for the ANC to put up a billboard with the names of innocent women and children who were murdered daily in Cape Town by gangs where the DA governed.
He labelled the DA’s billboard as dirty campaigning.
The relatives of the relatives of the Life Esidimeni victims have since claimed responsibility for the billboard damage.
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