DA Umgungundlovu has seen a worrying increase in ANC campaigning disguised as government public participation, using taxpayer money to fund the ANC election campaign.
More recently both Mayor Mzi Zuma and Speaker Nonhlanhla Gabela of Umgungundlovu district were photographed (see here & here) at government meetings wearing ANC regalia and handing over government resources. During one of these recent disguised events, on the 12th of May, a government-sponsored event was held in uMngeni Municipality where wheelbarrows and gardening equipment were handed over to small scale farmers. However, the mayor of uMngeni, Chris Pappas and Ward councillor, Hazel Lake, were not invited. This is a clear transgression of legislation and an obvious failure to exercise the separation of party and state which we believe was a deliberate action fueled by the ANC’s desperation.
The following day, on the 13th of May, Mayor Zuma addressed crowds at a government meeting while in ANC regalia in Richmond announcing that the municipality would provide 15 boreholes at a cost of R6 million in order to address water supply issues facing communities.
A few days earlier in the community of Mshwathi, infrastructure projects to the value of over R500 million were announced by Mayor Zuma, while again in ANC regalia, strategically and deliberately misleading residents into thinking these are supplied by the ANC.
This trend is occurring throughout the province and is an obvious corruption of the functions of government entities and their resources.
We strongly opposed this as an abuse of taxpayers’ money and call on the ANC in Umgungndlovu to stop using state funds for campaigning!