ANC Free State denies damaging DA election posters

18 May 2016

Bloemfontein – The ANC in the Free State on Wednesday denied accusations made by the DA alleging that it damaged their election posters in Bloemfontein.

"We have conducted a disciplined campaign towards the election manifesto which was a success. The DA is the one who manufactured the posters," said provincial spokesperson Thabo Meeko.

"This is a period of election fever and this is a ploy to defocus our people. We continue to be the champion of free and fair elections," he said.

During a sitting at the provincial legislature on Tuesday, leader of the official opposition Roy Jankielsohn accused the ANC of allegedly damaging their election posters.

"Last week, the ANC stole DA posters and glued their provincial launch poster, complete with President [Jacob] Zuma's face on it over them. How can they do that to their president? How can they steal our posters and put his face there?" he said.

Free State 100% behind Zuma

Jankielsohn said they had since laid criminal charges against the ANC.

The ANC held its local government election manifesto rally at the Sebothelo Stadium in Botshabelo on Saturday. Zuma was a keynote speaker at the launch.

There have been widespread calls for Zuma to resign following the Constitutional Court ruling that he failed to uphold the Constitution when he did not comply with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's remedial action regarding payment for the upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.

After the judgment, Zuma apologised for the Nkandla matter in a televised address to the nation.

However, since then, the ANC in Free State said they stand 100% behind Zuma, saying an attack on Zuma was an attack on the whole party.

This article first appeared on News 24, see here.