The DA has called on public protector, advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, to set in motion an “own initiative investigation”.
The DA said that this investigation would look into claims of misusing state funds for electioneering ahead of the May 29 vote, much like the one that was carried out in August 2020 regarding the Eastern Cape department of health’s medical scooter project.
The call comes amid allegations suggesting that the ANC has been utilising taxpayers’ money to fund its election campaign, which contravenes the electoral code of conduct.
Public Works budget targeted
Reports indicate that the Public Works budget has been targeted for ANC election purposes, with senior ANC officials allegedly issuing unlawful instructions to government departments to align their activities with the party’s campaign.
The alleged expenditure of millions of rands on the “launching” of phase five of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is one particularly glaring instance that DA MP Solly Malatsi has highlighted.
This expenditure, he argues, is excessive and primarily covers expenses such as busing attendees, printing T-shirts, and providing pre-packaged food — activities deemed unnecessary for a programme with a longstanding existence.
“The ANC’s Mdumiseni Ntuli is reported to have issued an instruction, unlawfully, to government departments demanding that they submit that they were about to launch so that this could be seamlessly integrated with the ANC’s election campaign,” said Malatsi.
R5m allegedly spent on the launch
“The law is very clear; no political party has the authority to issue instructions to government departments or direct how they should conduct their business.
“In another case, the Department of Public Works is said to have spent R5-million ‘launching’ phase five of the Expanded Public Works Programme.
“For a similar ‘launch’ in the North West scheduled for May 2, the province’s department of public works budgeted R38.1-million — an amount that is now under review after being deemed excessive by some of the officials in the province.
“These excessive launch fees are only being used for busing people to venues, printing T-shirts, and providing pre-packaged food.
“For a programme that has been in existence for decades, why does the ANC government see the need to spend millions ‘launching’ it?
“For the North West ‘launch’, where 10 000 people are expected to be bussed, it is clear that the ANC wants to use this seemingly government event to push its election messaging and create an impression in the minds of voters that the EPWP jobs come from the ANC.”
According to the DA, the ANC’s actions represent a blatant abuse of taxpayer money and a direct assault on democracy.
Malatsi emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that the current “retrospective” nature of public protector investigations allows the ANC to continue its alleged illegal actions with impunity, confident that repercussions will only be felt after the elections.
DA wants steering committee established
In response to these concerns, the DA urges the public protector to establish a steering committee to investigate the reported abuse of state resources for electioneering purposes.
This proactive approach, the party argues, is essential to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and holding accountable those responsible for misusing public funds.
“The ANC knows that it can continue with this brazen abuse of taxpayer money because the public protector investigation model is retrospective in nature.
“They have made the calculation that the public protector will only conclude her investigations long after the elections have ended, with no direct consequences for their illegal actions.
“The public protector cannot afford to ignore this glaring abuse of state resources for election campaigning, which is a direct assault on our democracy.
“She needs to act now by setting up the steering committee that will investigate the impunity with which the ANC is capturing public funds to hang on to power at all costs.”
ANC’s ongoing support from funders
The ANC previously made the news for failing to pay its staff on time. It was also reported that the party was scrambling to raise funds for its election campaign.
In response, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula stated that the governing party’s financial situation was not a significant concern.
He dismissed the notion that the party lacked funds for campaigns, emphasising that the ANC had ongoing support from funders who contributed consistently.
Mbalula highlighted that financial constraints were not unique to the ANC, suggesting that all political parties in South Africa faced similar issues.
