Maimane asks IEC to investigate ANC’s Bosasa election ‘war rooms’

DA leader Mmusi Maimane has asked the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to investigate the ANC’s election “war rooms” that were established by the controversial Bosasa on behalf of the ruling party.

Maimane confirmed in a Twitter message on Wednesday that he wrote to the IEC chairperson, Glen Mashinini, requesting the commission to institute an investigation into the ANC’s Bosasa-funded ANC war rooms.

“This constitutes an abuse of power to mutually benefit both parties and is in contravention of Section 9(e) of the Electoral Code of Conduct,” Maimane wrote.

An IEC official said a letter on the issue from Maimane had been received but an official statement of confirmation would be issued later on Wednesday evening.

This came amid reports that Bosasa, now known as African Global Operations, which is being liquidated, had established ANC election ‘war rooms’ at the company’s head office in Krugersdorp over the past three elections. The rooms were operated ahead of the 2011, 2014 and 2016 elections and allegedly cost around R6 million.

Maimane said this “showed once again the corrupt, mutually beneficial relationship between the ANC and Bosasa that has existed for the past 20 years”.

Equipment set up in the war rooms reportedly included a R400,000 screen wall to track election results; R450,000 worth of computers and software licensing; a R14,000 weekly phone bill; 30 cubicles and telephones; R210,000 for food and drinks and software for 70 volunteers; and R700,000 in office security and volunteer payments, all footed by Bosasa.

“The fact that this shameless corrupt relationship between the ANC and Bosasa sought to interfere with electoral outcomes requires immediate action from the Independent Electoral Commission,” Maimane said.

He wrote the letter to Mashinini asking for a full-scale investigation of the matter. “We are of the view that this conduct is in contravention of Section 9(e) of the Electoral Code of Conduct, which states that ‘No registered party or candidate may abuse a position of power, privilege or influence, including parental, patriarchal, traditional or employment authority to influence the conduct or outcome of an election’.”

He added: “The IEC must also assure the people of South Africa that such dirty tricks will not play themselves out in this year’s election on 8 May – an election the ANC knows it may very well lose.”

The DA leader said if Ramaphosa was truly intent on dealing with corruption within the ANC and government, he should institute a full-scale independent inquiry – headed by a retired judge to be selected by the chief justice – to fully investigate the Bosasa scandal, which now involved the president and his family.

“He must also ask his Cabinet to audit all government contracts and deals with Bosasa and cancel all existing government contracts with Bosasa.

“(He must) make public his son Andile’s business contract(s) with Bosasa, which he told parliament he has personally seen. We urge the president to stop talking and start acting on corruption – even when it implicates his own family,” Maimane said.

– ericn@citizen.co.za

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