Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Roy Jankieslohn MPL and Sesotho Jafta Mokoena MPL
The ANC in the Free State have no respect for the separation of party and state. This was once again illustrated in an invitation to all Free State Mayors, Speakers and Municipal Managers by the ANC Provincial Secretary, Polediso Motsoeneng, requesting them to attend an ANC event at Philip Sanders Resort that is owned by the Provincial Government. Furthermore, Municipal Managers are expected to contribute R500 each to the costs of the event. As municipal officials, Municipal Managers are legally expected to be impartial and not be involved in party political events during working hours.
Senior officials in ANC-run administrations are clearly regarded as mere extensions of the party in terms of their internal cadre deployment policy. These ANC-run municipalities are dysfunctional and most are unable to deliver even the most basic of services.
On request of the DA, the Public Protector has investigated similar abuses, and has declared this illegal. The Public Protector is currently investigating a complaint against President Ramaphosa and members of the Free State Executive for the abuse of state resources for party political purposes after handing over state-built houses under an ANC banner during their Letsema campaign in 2022.
After almost 30 years in government, the ANC is unable to separate their roles as political party and government. While the actions of the ANC continue to undermine our country’s fragile democracy, the DA will fight to uphold the principles of our constitution and fight to protect democracy in the Free State and the country.
The DA has written to the MEC for COGTA, Mr Ketso Makume, and Premier Mxolisi Dukwana, also in his capacity as head of the ANC in the Free State, to withdraw this invitation immediately. The DA will also submit questions to the MEC for DESTEA, Mr Thabo Meeko, to determine whether the ANC paid for the use of the provincial government-owned resort.