EFF Marks Mandela Day (18.07.2018)

Press Statement: Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela MP – Formal Complaints laid with IEC and Asas over DA abuse of Madiba (08.07.2016)

8 JULY 2016

Press statement from Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela MP

FORMAL COMPLAINTS LAID WITH IEC AND ASASA OVERDA ABUSE OF MADIBA

The Independent Electoral Commission and the AdvertisingStandards Authority of South Africa have been formally requestedto stop the Democratic Alliance from continuing to broadcast an election advertisement that seeks to hoodwink voters intobelieving that, were he alive today, the former President uTata Nelson Mandela would have considered voting for the DA.There is ample evidence that Madiba would never havesupported the DA. He was a lifelong member and leader of the ANC, who made it clear that the first thing he’d do on arriving inheaven would be to find the nearest ANC branch.The Mandela family is outraged at this abuse of its revered elder. We understand that, as a founding father of our nation and beloved president, there is a sense in which Madiba “belonged” to all South Africans. But his legacy is not for sale to political parties. Not to the DA, EFF, FF+ or any other party.For the DA to use his voice to try and convince South Africans to vote against the only political organisation he ever held dear is acrudely disrespectful distortion of history.

Below (in green italics) is the text of thecomplaint formally submitted to the IEC and ASASA today.

COMPLAINT IN RESPECT OF DA TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT VIOLATING THE ELECTORAL CODE, ANDREQUEST FOR INTERVENTION 

 

Over the past weekend, a DA election advertisement using thevoice of former President Nelson Mandela was brought to theattention of the Mandela family. The use of the former President’svoice was not approved by his family or the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

It is a matter of public record that uTata Mandela was alifelong member and leader of the ANC, and that he said the firstthing he’d do on getting to heaven would be to join the nearest ANC branch. Speaking of the DA’s predecessors, the NP and DP,President Mandela once said: “The NP and DP are engaged in adesperate struggle to out-compete each other in a race whichthey believe will be won by whoever convinces the white minoritythat they are the most reliable and best defenders of white privilege.” 

 

For the DA to use uTata’s voice against the ANC is a distortion offact and a distortion of history. It is unfair, unpalatable, unethicaland unacceptable.

 

Please find below an electronic link to view the advertisement.

 

We hereby request your good office to urgently consider thismatter and take appropriate steps to stop this unashamedmanipulation of our Father of the Nation.

 

Yours faithfully 

 

NKOSI ZWELIVELILE MANDELA MP 

Here is the Ad in Question: