DA Lays Criminal Charge Against ANC - MAS536/02/2009

The Democratic Alliance today laid criminal charges against the ANC - case number MAS536/02/2009 at the Middelburg Police Station.

On Saturday, 21 February 2009, the DA became aware of a fake DA pamphlet being distributed (see below) by the ANC in the Steve Tshwete Municipality. According to the DA's information a Ms Jaenette Mahlangu, an ANC candidate in a coming by-election, distributed the pamphlet to learners at the Middelburg Mine Combined School on Friday last week.

In the pamphlet, the DA is portrayed as a racist party, claiming that the DA wants to bring back the days of 'permits', in order to fight the 'Swart Gevaar'. The pamphlet ends with the words 'Warning: Do not show this pamphlet to your maids and garden boys ... we need their votes'.

This kind of Mugabe-style propaganda is unacceptable and illustrates the extent to which the ANC will go to cling to power. The ANC knows that the only way they can maintain dominance over the electorate is by playing race politics. They are a disgrace to our society.

The Electoral Act prohibits persons from 'impersonating' other parties and or candidates and prohibits the distribution of false information. As such the DA has laid criminal charges against the ANC and has submitted a formal complaint to the Provincial Electoral Officer, Mr Steve Ngwenya.

It is becoming more and more apparent that the ANC are resorting to intimidation tactics to secure votes in this election and are clearly threatened by the growth that the DA has shown in traditional ANC strong-holds. The DA wont be intimidated and neither must the community be intimidated, we will defend our democratic space with all our worth.

The DA is committed to a non-racial South Africa, free from crime and corruption whereby every South African can achieve their dreams within an equal open opportunity society.

Statement issued by Anthony Benadie MPL, Democratic Alliance Provincial Leader, February 23 2009