Johannesburg - Another showdown is looming between the DA and Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.
This time, the quarrel is over Muthambi’s choice of the ANC’s election slogan as the theme for the upcoming national imbizo focus week.
DA leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has written a letter to Muthambi, objecting to the use of the slogan “Together we move South Africa forward” as the theme for the imbizo, scheduled for April 7 to 12.
Zille has also threatened that the DA-led Western Cape provincial government would boycott the event unless Muthambi withdrew the slogan.
The imbizo focus week was launched last year to enable ministers, their deputies, premiers and MECs to interact with communities in various parts of the country.
Zille said Muthambi had written to the Western Cape government, requesting the provincial administration to submit its proposed schedule of activities for the event.
“The letter also informs us that the theme for the imbizo week is ‘Together we move South Africa forward’, which is also the theme of the national government’s communications strategy for the next five years,” Zille wrote in her letter to Muthambi.
Zille’s letter to the minister is dated March 23.
“I strongly object to the use of this theme for both the upcoming imbizo week and the national communication strategy, as this was the key theme of the ANC’s 2014 election manifesto.
“This means that the national government events and communication campaigns are being used for ANC party political processes,” Zille wrote.
At the SA Local Government Association national assembly on Monday, President Jacob Zuma occasionally used the slogan “Together we move South Africa forward”.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe reacted angrily to Zille’s objection on Thursday.
He said: “The ANC put its campaign to the electorate and it was elected to govern. That government of the ANC must implement that programme. We are not promoting the party, we are implementing the programme that we showed to the electorate. What do you want us to do?”
Zille said the Western Cape government was committed to upholding the separation between party and state.
“We cannot have government spending millions of rand on campaigns that push the slogans and branding of a political party,” she said.
Ministry of Communications spokesman Ayanda Hollow refused to comment, but said: “We have responded to the (premier’s) letter.
“If you want to know the content of our letter, I think it’s appropriate that you call her office. We didn’t give you the letter; I don’t know who gave you the letter.”
Zille’s spokesman Michael Mpofu denied she had received a letter. “The only thing we have received is an acknowledgement of receipt of the premier’s letter,” Mpofu said, adding that Zille had raised the matter on several occasions before at the President’s Co-ordinating Council meetings.
The furore is the latest in a string of clashes between the DA and Muthambi.
Last week, Muthambi accused the Western Cape government of abusing its power, following its decision not to renew its subscriptions to the Cape Times when they expire.
In January, DA spokesman Gavin Davis accused the minister of meddling in the SABC board over the appointment of a chief executive officer.
Muthambi’s office criticised Davis for making “spurious accusations” against her.
The Star