The African National Congress (ANC) may approach the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in connection with a Democratic Alliance (DA) advertising campaign deriding the government's e-toll system.
At least three billboards, that read "E-tolls. Proudly brought to you by the ANC", have been seen erected along major Gauteng highways. The monotone display does not feature either DA or ANC branding, but has been confirmed to be a project by the opposition party.
DA national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane confirmed the party was behind the campaign, but says it is not something it is talking about or commenting on at this stage.
Keith Khoza, head of communications at the ANC, says a team of officials has been sent out to investigate the controversial billboards and, if they are found to be a violation of the IEC code, "the matter will be taken up with the IEC".
Khoza says the campaign is a ploy related to the upcoming elections. He refers to a recent DA campaign, in which the party misrepresented the ANC - and later apologised - and says "this is a continuation of that [campaign]. It's the same tactic with a different look and indicates an organisation that is out of its depth, so it uses the ANC to attract attention to itself".
He says depending on the outcome of the current investigation, the matter may also be taken up with the Advertising Standards Authority of SA.
Apt advert?
Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) chairman Wayne Duvenage says he has received a number of calls asking if the anonymous posters were the doing of the anti-toll lobby group. "Outa is not behind it. We don't have the funds to do something like that."
He says the statement being made, however, is an overt representation of the truth - regardless of the tone in which it is intended. "The billboard is saying e-tolling is here and you can thank one party for it. Usually when there is a hotly debated issue in Parliament, there will be one or two other parties that side with the leading party, but on this issue the ANC stood alone. You can literally say the ANC single-handedly brought e-tolls [to Gauteng]. The advert hits the nail on the head.
"And the ANC is proud about it. Just the other day, the minister [of transport, Dipuo Peters] said that most people are in favour of e-tolls. What planet are they living on?"
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