Tlokwe: Minister Dlamini throws 400 food parcels at by-election

More than 400 parcels will be pumped into Tlokwe ward 9 today on the instruction of Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, less than 24 hours before voting is due to start in the ward.

This amounts to one food parcel for 10 voters in the ward, all bought with public money.

This is a continuation of last week's abuse of state resources and government officials by the ANC in their desperate campaigning in Ward 9.

Minister Dlamini clearly has no regard for the line between party and state.

The Minister is trying to justify blowing public money on the ANC's campaign by calling it a poverty relief intervention. This is indicative of the levels to which the ANC will stoop in their abuse of state resources for political gain. 

During the DA's campaign it has become clear that even the poorest of the poor in Ward 9 have seen through this electioneering stunt.

The DA will submit formal questions to the Minister about the irrational and election-driven abuse of food parcels. The abuse, personally driven by Minister Dlamini, highlights the lack of fair, sustainable care for vulnerable sectors of our society.

Statement issued by Chris Hattingh, DA Leader in the North West, August 6 2013

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