The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has written to MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sipho Hlomuka, regarding a suspicious IFP election advert currently circulating on social media.
The DA has picked up the infographic, advertising an IFP-branded election event (view here). Yet the information reveals that it is in fact a Ulundi Municipal Integrated Development event. In an attempt to cover up their transgression, the IFP-led municipality later changed the advert to reflect something different (view here).
In terms of legislation, state funds – which are taxpayers’ money – may not be utilised to pay for political party-related election or other events. The DA has therefore requested that MEC Hlomuka urgently obtain information regarding this event, particularly when it comes to funding.
If the IFP is found to be abusing municipal resources and taxpayers’ money, there must be serious ramifications. This applies to both the organisers of the event and the IFP as an organisation.
The DA will also be reporting the issue to the Public Protector and alerting the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to a possible abuse of resources.
For too long, parties such as the IFP and ANC have abused state resources for party gain, blurring the line between party and state. This, while numerous communities in KZN remain without crucial services such as water, sanitation, roads and electricity.
The people of our province will soon have an opportunity to stop the abuse of state resources by voting for the DA – the party that gets things done.
