CAPE TOWN - The election campaign for the Cape Muslim Congress (CMC) has hit a snag with the party hurriedly removing posters in Wynberg and Grassy Park after it emerged their party signage was plastered over old DA posters.
Cape Town residents at the weekend noticed former DA leader, Mmusi Maimane’s face on lampposts in the southern suburbs, after heavy rains and wind exposed sloppy workmanship to reveal that CMC posters were pasted over old DA election campaign posters.
CMC leader, Yagyah Adams, said they had acquired the posters from a private business after they could not find the correct poster board size available in the country.
“I bought the board from a private business in Kommetjie.
“The board was recycled board because the CMC believes in sustainable and socially responsible development.
“Also, there is no poster board for sale in the country as a certain political party bought all the available boards. Thus we had no real choice.
“Also the CMC is a completely independent, self-funded political party that does not receive any funding.
“It is funded from my salary. Thus, it is also a cost cutting effort. We have no connection or relationship with the DA other than colleagues in the council chamber,” said Adams.
Further, Adams claimed that their party had “lost 50% of our campaign posters due to ongoing theft”.
“The challenges facing smaller parties are massive and are made worse by the fact that others have massive budgets.
“The weather unfortunately damaged the posters which we thought were well secured.
“Sadly, although we paid good money for the job to be done, it does seem as if some failure has happened,” said Adams.
Adams confirmed the party is in the process of removing posters in the Wynberg and Grassy Park areas.
“I am working hard to avoid unnecessary negative campaigning,” said Adams.
Provincial DA spokesperson, Jaco Londt, said they were unaware that their old campaign posters were being used by CMC, adding that missing poster boards “costs us money”.
“We now know where some of our previous election boards have gone. We have and will continue to report all transgressions through the appropriate channels,” said Londt.
Attempts to get comment from Maimane, who is an independent candidate after resigning from the DA last year, were unsuccessful at deadline.
Cape Times