The latest edition of Win the Electorate 2024 kicked off in KwaZulu-Natal with a massive salvo fired by the ANC against the DA’s provincial poster boy, Chris Pappas last week.
The irony that the missive came from former DA KZN leader Sizwe Mchunu, who has now found a bed with the ANC, couldn’t be any sweeter for the ruling party who would have taken great pleasure in twisting the knife into the back of their opposition.
The timing of Mchunu’s expose about uMngeni mayor Pappas and his former fiancé, Jean-Pierre Prinsloo — that the latter received a plum position as head of uMngeni tourism with a fat handout because of his partner — came as Pappas led a charm offensive in politically-fragile Gauteng as the party’s KZN premier candidate.
Which is why the opposition’s in-your-face ploy to parade Pappas in Gauteng was smacked for a six by Mchunu’s letter to the public protector for investigation into claim of nepotism and possible fraud.
Not to mention the flood of innuendos and personal digs on social media against Pappas for his openly gay status.
Pappas took the digs on his chin, saying the claims were part of a “smear campaign” to counter the threat of his successful roadshow.
Mchunu’s utterances made way for phase two of the stratagem against Pappas with a call to action by the ANCYL to “shut down” the municipality amid calls for his arrest.
This in turn had the municipality and Pappas running off to court to stop the protest on Monday to “protect property and lives”, on the basis that provisions of the Gatherings Act had not been followed, and there was evidence that showed there was a threat of violence and chaos.
Ever mindful of the optics, Pappas also argued for a cost order because the court action should not be at the expense of the taxpayers.
Undeterred, the ANCYL has moved its protest to Wednesday, attacking Pappas for “running away from peaceful protesters exercising their democratic rights” and implying he had something to hide.
The important thing to remember as we navigate this time in the run up to our elections, is that politics can often be a dirty game with the worst consequences for those most vulnerable.
The consequences of this political duel will no doubt lead to some interruption to work, school and business life in the municipality on Wednesday.
But not to be outdone, the DA deployed its own strike this week by labelling minister of public works and infrastructure Sihle Zikalala as a liar who made misleading claim that 200 people had been arrested in connection with construction mafia allegations.
The DA surmised that despite their PAIA application, the police weren’t able to corroborate these figures and their request for an extension which they failed to meet proved their theory.
Now they say, Zikalala must be held accountable for his Pinocchio-esque attempt to create the impression that he was doing something to stop the construction mafia scourge that is stalling infrastructure development in South Africa.
In response, his office has deemed the DA’s statement as “yet another act of desperation to defame the government fuelled by its own delusion and obsession to be purveyors of fake news”.
They are demanding a retraction and apology within seven days for defamation and that the minister and the department reserve their rights to legal action. In addition they promise law enforcement is indeed making progress against the construction mafia, and details will follow in an upcoming briefing.
It will be interesting to see if they turn to the courts, who will foot the bill.
These incidents brings the populace to the inescapable reality that election season has officially begun, and that all bets are off in the fight for the vote in the run up to the country’s seventh democratic election sometime between May and August next year.
That in the next few months, the phrases “reminiscent of apartheid tactics”, “smear campaign”, “conducive to free and fair elections”, “acts of desperation”, “purveyors of fake news”, “falsehood and propaganda” and “disinformation” will dominate the airwaves across the land until the last cross is made.
There will be dozens of pictures of politicians handing out title deeds and donor packs, opening roads and bridges, switching on street lights, smiling at library launches, visiting hospital wards and clinics and engaging with communities wearing sponsored T-shirts.
The important thing to remember as we navigate this time in the run up to our elections, is that politics can often be a dirty game with the worst consequences for those most vulnerable.
It is therefore vital not to be sucked into the tit-for-tat campaigns that precede elections, often causing voter fatigue, abstention or disengagement.
Now, more than ever, as we hurtle towards the cornerstone of our democracy, reeling from decades of plundering of our state assets under the watch of our country's leaders, it is necessary to stop our crying and to make informed choices that can actively shape the future of our beloved country.
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