SMS war between parties intensifies
The silly season is in full swing, with political parties using colourful tactics for political mileage.
With a week to go before election day, the ANC and DA have been at each other’s throats, using SMSes, advertisements and social media in a bid to outsmart each other.
An SMS sent to Nelson Mandela Bay voters this week has riled many people.
The SMS reads: “THE DA COMES FROM THE NP and wants to continue to oppress OUR people! Athol Trollip is n Wit Baas – 3 AUG – STEM ANC. Asinavalo! Nika i ANC amandla olawulo [We are not anxious, give the ANC the power to govern].”
Voters have also gone on to social networks to complain about “annoying” SMSes and automated phone calls received in the last few weeks.
One of the text messages reads: “Opinion polls by Ipsos and eNCA show the DA can win in PE – but only if DA supporters go and vote. Follow the link to see the poll.”
Another one says: “Only the DA can beat the ANC in NMB. A vote for a smaller party will split the vote & let the ANC win. Don’t waste your vote. Vote for Change. Vote DA.”
Speaking at a media conference
ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize – who was accompanied by provincial deputy chairman Sakhumzi Somyo, Qoboshiyane, Regional Task Team convener Vuyani Limba and regional coordinator Beza Ntshona – lashed out at the DA at the briefing for “appropriating” former president Nelson Mandela to further its campaign.
This comes after the DA mounted posters with the wording, “Honour Mandela’s dream, vote DA”.
Mkhize said while Mandela had been the leader of the whole country, to make him an icon of the DA was taking things too far.
“The DA owes South Africa the truth. They must let the nation know that Madiba had little or no respect for the DA,” he said.
“The recent stunts by the DA using Mandela is typically motivated to persuade voters to hoist a failed Athol Trollip and campaign gimmicks nationwide.”
However, Trollip said the ANC smear campaign had been exposed for what it was – gutter politics at its worst.
“They are in a desperate panic mode,” he said.
“The ANC knows the DA is going to win the [Nelson Mandela Bay] metro and their last resort is racial mobilisation, lies and vitriol.”
