From controversial campaign ads to allegations of intimidation and outside influence, the country's political scene is in tumultuous times ahead of the upcoming election.
With South Africa's national elections just days away, political parties and their campaigns have sparked significant online controversy and public backlash. Online election conversations received more than 350,000 mentions from May 1 to 14, according to a new report from the Center for Analysis and Behavior Change (CABC), with political parties reporting desperate tactics and a lack of substantive planning. It included many high-profile posts criticizing the.
DA's burning flag ad sparks outrage
The Democratic Alliance (DA) was embroiled in a heated controversy after releasing a provocative campaign ad on May 5th. The ad, which involved burning the South African flag, caused widespread condemnation and confusion among South Africans and authorities. The DA's controversial ad depicted the burning of the South African flag while labeling the ANC, MK party and EFF as a “corrupt coalition”. The program declared, “This is an election for survival,” and called on viewers to support the DA, along with a symbolically reconstructed national flag. The ad drew widespread condemnation from government officials and celebrities who called it unpatriotic and unacceptable.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) initially refused to air the ad unless it was corrected, citing concerns about its content. However, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhausen staunchly defended the SABC's decision, calling it an “attack on democracy and freedom of expression”. The ban prompted a joint statement from civil society groups expressing “deep concern”.
The controversy over the ad intensified after Arts, Sport and Culture Minister Gigi Kodwa announced the government plans to take action against the DA, and President Cyril Ramaphosa also condemned the ad.
The controversy has also generated disinformation, with CABC reporting that a fake photoshopped image of DA leader John Steenhausen himself burning a South African flag is being circulated online.
ANC faces criticism over election tactics
The African National Congress (ANC) also came under fire for inviting Zimbabwe's ruling party, ZANU-PF, to observe election activities, sparking opposition concerns. Opposition parties and politicians from the Alliance for Democracy, Build One South Africa and the African Movement for Change cited a history of controversial elections and concerns over the scope of democratic freedoms in Zimbabwe, CABC reported. criticized the invitation.
The ANC said it was a “tradition” to invite fellow liberation movements, but South Africa's IEC confirmed that ZANU-PF did not have official observer status.
Threats and conspiracies surrounding former President Zuma
Internal divisions within the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party have also added to the controversy, with an intelligence report alleging a plot to poison former president Jacob Zuma. Mr Zuma's daughter and an investigative journalist also alleged death threats against Mr Zuma, who has faced similar allegations in the past. While some people online expressed support for Zuma, others dismissed it as a publicity stunt amid a power struggle with MK party founder Jabulani Khumalo for control of the party's leadership.
Power struggle within the MK party continues as Jabulani Khumalo, who challenges Jacob Zuma's leadership of the party, is suspected of imposing a R500,000 fine on the former president's life, Insight Factor's investigative journalists report. Things took a turn for the worse. “The alleged threat to the former president's life is not a new incident; he is said to have previously attempted to poison himself and was treated in Moscow,” the report said.
CABC reported: “Reaction to this report appears to be primarily supportive of the former president, with many pointing out that such attempts to delegitimize, discredit, and assassinate the president will continue to fail. Furthermore, there appears to be a growing feeling that there is injustice.'' Active attempts by the ANC and other establishment politicians to challenge Zuma's rule. ”
“But critics dismissed it as “another PR stunt for sympathy'' and “another example of corruption and propaganda by the former president.''
Amid the controversy, CABC reported that Mr. Khumalo had written to the IEC to remove Mr. Zuma as MK party leader, but the commission said it was “not involved in the internal affairs of political parties and is not responsible for guiding the party's registration.” I can only receive instructions from those who are responsible.'' Zuma”.