ANC GRANTED LEAVE TO APPEAL JUDGEMENT ON DA SMSes

The African National Congress is pleased that Acting Judge Hellens has today, Saturday 12 April 2014, granted the ANC leave to appeal his judgement on the DA SMSes.  We believe that this decision is in the interest of upholding the integrity of the electoral process and in the interest of the country as a whole. The decision further confirms the view of the ANC that another court will reach a different conclusion on this matter.

The effect of the leave to appeal is that the earlier judgment by Acting Judge Hellens, which favoured the DA, is suspended pending the final determination by the Electoral Court.

We implore all political parties to respect the law and campaign on the basis of truth and substance of their policies, if any. We equally urge them to desist from spreading falsehoods to influence the outcome of the elections in contravention of the Electoral Code and Electoral Act.

The ANC will now prepare to approach the Electoral Court where we will reaffirm our assertion that the SMS circulated by the DA claiming President Zuma stole R246million is devoid of any truth, is a distortion and misrepresentation of the Public Protector's Report and therefore constitutes the publishing of false information intended to influence the outcome of the election by deceiving the public.

The ANC wants the DA to desist publishing any further SMS to this effect, retract the message on those already sent and apologize to President Zuma and the ANC. Our commitment as an organization remains ensuring  a free and fair election despite attempts by others  to the contrary.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, April 12 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter