THE forthcoming 2024 national elections are beginning to show signs of desperation and playing dirty.
This follows a controversial letter the opposition party Democratic Alliance, wrote to the West, appealing for funding and resources ahead of elections.
This moves did not sit well with both the ruling party and the Independent Electoral Commission, who described this move as “desperation”, whereas they could have approached other reputable observers from AU, SADC, EU etc.
“There are avenues to explore when such concerns are raised such as EU, SADC, AU and so forth. Its very unfortunate they went that route,” says Sy Mamabolo, IEC boss.
Sending a letter to the US and other foreign affairs ministers in Europe asking for help in ensuring no foreign interference in South Africa’s upcoming election, is a bad move, as one political analyst Mpumelelo Mkhabela alluded it as “a poor fund raising move”.
ANC’s is also outraged.
“We don’t even know what is the basis for these tantrums by the DA. Firstly it’s not surprising for us as the ANC. What do you expect from a party that wants to have international relations powers? What do you expect from a party whose leader talks about the war in Gaza saying that one man’s genocide is another man’s freedom.
What do you expect about protecting the sovereignty on SA to be able to run a free and fair elections without the interference of any powers in the west and the global north?” asked Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, the party’s spokesperson.
This is only the beginning, as more hair-raising, dirty tactics are going to unfold as we fast approach elections.
Meanwhile, the official who allegedly leaked both the ANC and MK party’s candidates list face expulsion.
The list was leaked on a social media purposely.
According to Mamabolo, the said official is based in the IEC Gauteng office, and was only person, he said, confirming that internal process are under way to determine the source(s).
“Investigations are on going and will establish if others might be involved,” he told media during today’s briefing.
