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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Office of the Public Protector to request that an investigation be conducted into how the ANC are abusing state resources for party political purposes.

This request follows a letter addressed by the DA to the Premier and to the provincial department of Public Works, in which we had afforded the provincial government 48 hours to remove the ANC’s logo from the perimeter fencing of a vacant piece of land which currently vests in state custody.

There are numerous Public Protector reports which have determined that their political party logos should not be placed on state property, and as such, we requested the provincial government to remove this painting of the ANC logo on the perimeter fencing of a vacant piece of land situated in Mangaung within 48 hours.

In 2016, on the insistence of the DA, a policy was approved by the Executive Council which detailed the need to separate party and state activities. Section 4.2.3 of this policy provides that: “An official who misuses his/her position in the public service to promote or to prejudice the interest of any political party; or contravenes the Code of Conduct, prescribed for the public service, will be guilty of misconduct”. Furthermore, section 5 of this policy reads that: “No political office bearer or official may be required or allowed to use their position to market political party matters”.

After failing to remove this ANC logo, the DA is left with no choice but to force the provincial government to comply, by requesting the Office of the Public Protector to investigate this matter.

The mere arrogance of the provincial department in failing to remove the ANC’s logo from state premises is testament to the ANC’s disregard for the rule of law and for the Office of the Public Protector.

If the ANC cannot do the basics right such as removing their logos from state property, how can they expect to deliver services to residents. The DA will continue to fight for and protect the rule of law because the DA gets things done.

Issued by Leader of the Opposition in the Free State Dr Roy Jankielsohn