ANC Slams DA “bribe” Scam

The ANC in the Free State has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of bribing its members in an effort to maximise votes in the 2014 national elections.

The DA is currently engaged in a vigorous electioneering campaign ahead of next year’s polls, and has gone as far as claiming that its leaders had contributed to the struggle for freedom.

ANC provincial spokesperson, Thabo Meeko,  said the DA attempt to buy ANC members is an “indication of a desperate, hopeless party that will stop at nothing including electoral fraud”.

According to Meeko, the DA identifies influential ANC members in impoverished communities and offers them stipends ranging between R1 000 and R2 000 to campaign for the party. The practice is reported to be particularly prevalent in Clarens, Paul Roux and Bethlehem.

“We heard about these reports from the ground and we are busy investigating further. Some of these people who were bribed came forward and told us they were desperate for money that is why they went along with DA.

“They told us they love the ANC but out of desperation, they are now pretending to be DA members. It’s not right, but we understand that although these people wear DA T-shirts and campaign for them they are ANC supporters at heart,” said Meeko.

Meeko added that these desperate ANC members are being used to get contacts of other members and send them text messages welcoming them as new DA members.

“We believe some municipal officials are involved. They have provided the DA with information about ANC members. We also know that this is a cell phone hoax where people are tricked into joining the DA.”

The DA’s tactics have also been slammed by the ANC national executive committee.

“Such behaviour is typical of the DA, and this latest scandal is consistent with their incoherent campaign, which is littered with lies and vitriol directed at the ANC and its leadership. The ANC has warned that the DA will do anything to gain power and it is no surprise therefore that they will resort to even unconstitutional means to ascend to power,” said an ANC statement.

YCL national secretary and ANC member of parliament, Buti Manamela, poured scorn on the DA’s campaign that portrays the party’s leaders as freedom fighters. He challenged the DA leader in parliament, Lindiwe Mazibuko to a public debate through an open letter.

“The DA drew a parallel between the ANC and the National Party government as part of a very opportunistic campaign to discredit the governing party and therefore score some political points…I do not agree with these assertions,” said Manamela in his letter.

The DA parliamentary leader in the Free State, Roy Jankielsohn, dismissed the allegations of bribery against his party. He said the allegations were part of the ANC’s strategy to discredit the DA in the province.

“I regard this as an absolutely ridiculous and baseless accusation from one disgruntled person in Clarens. This is a person who is unhappy with the DA again. We are not going to take this seriously,” Jankielsohn told The Weekly.