By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has noted with interest the leaked recording of President Cyril Ramaphosa telling National Executive Committee members to start “aggressively communicating its success stories” through advertising in the next critical campaigning weeks ahead of the 29 May national elections.
In a statement, “The ANC has noted the media’s interest in the leaked recording of the ANC NEC meeting discussing the ANC’s 2024 elections campaign. While the ANC’s long-standing principle is not to comment on leaked information because we do not want to dignify the unethical behaviour with a response.
“While the ANC will not be drawn on statements made by individual leaders during its meetings, the ANC is confident of the impact its elections campaign is making and the positive reception the movement is receiving across the length and breadth of the country,” the party said.
In the recording that has gone viral, Ramaphosa can be heard telling ANC top brass to “put their shoulder to the wheel” to ensure the party wins at least 57% in the May 29 polls.
Ramaphosa can be heard complaining about NEC members’ failure to meet their commitments, saying they lacked vigour in committing to the elections.
“Sometimes, our structures wait and wait and NEC members don’t appear. That deflates them. We’ve got volunteers around the country and we need to reinvigorate them.”
Ramaphosa has confirmed suggestions that the ANC’s elections campaign has had financial challenges.
“Funding for the campaign is definitely going to be there. We need to fire it up, with boots on the ground. (The) Issue of posters is being resolved; (the) issue of leaflets, we did say at the NWC (national working committee), we need to print out millions of leaflets.”
Meanwhile Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen wants Public Protector Koleka Gcaleka to probe the alleged abuse of state funds and manipulation of public resources by Ramaphosa and the ANC to supplement the ruling party’s election campaign.
Steenhuisen revealed that the DA will provide “new and damning evidence confirming that the ruling party intends to use taxpayer money to help it win votes”.
He claimed that a leaked recording, revealed that the party’s top brass, including Ramaphosa, have instructed senior public office bearers to manipulate the public purse to pay for the ANC’s election campaign.
According to the DA leader, this would be done via a series of public relations exercises and paid media advertisements promoting state projects and the party’s governance.
“Included in this strategy is a directive to tend to targeted service delivery failures days ahead of ANC campaign visits, to create the illusion of state delivery under the ANC.”
“This blatant abuse of taxpayer funds is proof of the way in which the ANC continues to manipulate and contort South African voters into believing that the governing party has the people’s interests at heart,” Steenhuisen argued.
“The new revelation is proof that the ANC is the ultimate emotional manipulator, gaslighting the South African electorate with false promises and smoke and mirrors at the taxpayers’ expense all to remain in power.”
The ANC is preparing to flood the airwaves with adverts from government departments – funded by the taxpayer – boasting of its successes since 1994.