Hope Ntanzi|Published
The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal says it has opened criminal cases over the destruction of its election materials, accusing candidates from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) of removing its campaign materials ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
ANC provincial spokesperson Sifiso Sonjica said the party received overnight reports of posters being removed in various parts of the province.
The ANC accused MK Party Ward 41 candidate Lindiwe Happiness Nxumalo of damaging its election materials in KwaMashu alongside family members, claiming video evidence showed her removing or damaging the materials.
It also accused FF+ candidate Michelle Wright of removing ANC campaign materials in Margate, within the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, alongside her son.
The ANC condemned what it described as a “widespread and orchestrated destruction and defacement” of its election materials, which it said threatened peace in the province.
The party said the incidents reflected a growing pattern of attempts to “subvert democratic processes, intimidate voters, spread targeted disinformation, and undermine the integrity of the electoral framework”.
The complaints come amid other reports of campaign materials being removed in KwaZulu-Natal. IOL previously reported that ANC posters and street pole banners had been removed along Durban’s M4 North. An IFP candidate in Phoenix has also reported the removal of her campaign posters on two occasions.
ANC calls for arrests over poster destruction
The ANC said destroying or defacing rival parties’ campaign materials breached the Electoral Code of Conduct under the Electoral Act and could amount to malicious damage to property.
“Political campaigning is a fundamental right enshrined under Section 19 of the Constitution,” the party said.
It said it had formally opened criminal cases with the police and demanded immediate arrests, arguing that “passive commentary from authorities is entirely insufficient when lawless acts threaten a free and fair election environment”.
The ANC described the incidents as “brazen political hooliganism” and accused political opponents of resorting to criminal sabotage as the election campaign gathered momentum.
ANC demands maximum penalties from IEC
The party called on the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to conduct swift investigations and use its statutory powers to impose what it described as the maximum available penalties.
It wants the commission to consider financial penalties, the forfeiture of electoral deposits and referrals to the Electoral Court for possible disqualification.
The ANC also called on the Provincial Political Liaison Committee to address what it described as “criminal intolerance” before it triggered wider instability.
“The ANC will not be intimidated by desperate reactionaries relying on anarchy in a desperate attempt to avoid their impending defeat at the polls,” the party said.
It added that it remained focused on securing a decisive victory in the local government elections, saying “no amount of intimidation and desperate acts of sabotage” would distract it from that goal.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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