Johannesburg - Political parties’ posters are being vandalised on a daily basis, and parties are pointing fingers at each other - with each one claiming “It wasn’t me”.
An ANC billboard in Sebokeng Zone 6 was vandalised earlier this month, triggering a series of accusations.
After the billboard was slashed, two EFF posters were placed on top of it, leading the ANC to blame the rival party.
“The ANC billboard has been destroyed by EFF hooligans,” said the ANC’s Thabiso Hlongwane on his Facebook page.
EFF national election spokeswoman Veronica Mente denied the claim, but said her own party had seen its posters vandalised.
“On Monday afternoon, the JMPD (Joburg metro police department) and ANC thugs removed all EFF posters in Joburg. If the ANC is not disrupting EFF meetings or stoning our members, it is removing our posters with its JMPD.
“These elections must be free and fair, and that includes allowing political parties to campaign freely. Removal of posters constitutes a violation of the freeness and fairness of the campaign,” she said.
JMPD spokeswoman Superintendent Edna Mamonyane rejected the EFF’s allegation that the JMPD was instructed by the ANC to remove posters, but said the JMPD had removed some posters because they were placed at illegal sites.
“Regardless of those posters belonging to the EFF or not, if they are where they shouldn’t be, we ought to remove them,” Mamonyane said.
The DA’s Gauteng north regional chairman, Solly Msimanga, agreed that vandalism was definitely a concern, and his party had also seen similar political interference.
“Our posters are being stolen and taken by ANC supporters, and they cannot continue to take them down because it is illegal to do so.
“In some incidents you find municipal workers being used to remove our posters, especially in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, where the ANC is feeling the heat, and really these materials are costly, something has to be done,” he said.
ANC Youth League spokeswoman Khusela Sangoni said this level of political intolerance was disappointing, and was adamant that the ANC was committed to free and fair elections.
She added that those who violate election codes should be called to order.
Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) chief of communication Kate Bapela said any vandalising of property was a criminal offence, and parties should take that up with the police.
She said the IEC regularly meets with all registered parties to ensure the elections run smoothly and fairly.
The Star