DA ON ANC MISUSE OF STATE FUNDS

In the run-up to the by-elections held in Nama Khoi and Khara Hais today, the ANC has again pulled out its bag of dirty election tricks. State officials have been arriving in their masses, driving government cars and using government funds to book themselves into guesthouses. Why does the government only plan poverty alleviation and community programmes when it is election time? Why is there no consistent effort from government to improve the living conditions of our people throughout their term of office, but only when votes are at stake?

It is simply too much of a coincidence that state officials arrive here in the week of the by-election and then all leave when the votes have been counted. It is clear that they are here to promote political interests. State officials must not serve political interests. They must serve public interests. It is for that reason that section 36 of the Public Service Act states that state officials and employees may not "publish any writing or deliver a public speech to promote or prejudice the interests of any political party". For state officials to campaign for the ANC is morally and legally wrong.

There is also the issue of government funds being used for a political party's election campaigns. This is a blatant misuse of public funds. Our public funds, which come from our taxes, are not a piggy bank for the ANC. We believe that state officials who campaign for the ANC, or any party for that matter, should be held accountable and charged in their personal capacity for accommodation, travels and meals. It should not be paid from the public purse.

The DA will not allow for this practice to become business as usual. We are in the process of compiling a report, including the names and positions of state officials who are campaigning for the ANC. We will hand this report over to the Public Protector and the Public Service Commission to investigate. We will name and shame those who become culprits of this behaviour.

Statement issued by Andrew Louw, DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader, August 13 2014

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