Cape Town – Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, has criticised the ANC for allegedly exploiting Nelson Mandela’s legacy in its election campaign advertisements.
The advertisement features President Cyril Ramaphosa saying:
“South Africans, it’s been 30 years since we took our first step to freedom. Since then, as South Africans, we have restored our people’s dignity, together we have made progress in meeting the basic needs of our people, millions more people have access to housing, water, sanitation, energy, communication, education and an improving social security system.”
A South African Story, brought to you by the ANC.
30 years since our first step to freedom, we’ve made incredible strides together.
From restoring dignity to providing basic needs, building safer communities to universal healthcare, we’re shaping a better South Africa.… pic.twitter.com/s6hKxrm1LA
— African National Congress (@MYANC) May 7, 2024
The ad also includes archival footage of Mandela from the onset of South Africa’s democratic era.
Reacting to an ANC advert featuring Mandela’s image and voice, Mashaba argued that Mandela’s legacy belongs to all South Africans, not just the ANC.
According to The Citizen, he expressed little surprise at the ANC’s utilisation of Mandela’s legacy to bolster its electoral prospects.
He accused the ruling party of misrepresenting the reality of South Africans’ experiences.
“The Mandela legacy applies to all of us as South Africans, not just the ANC, because Nelson Mandela is not a product of the ANC, he is a product of this country. All the presidents who came after Mandela have been a total disaster… for them to use the Mandela legacy as a platform it’s not going to work,” the report quoted Mashaba as saying.
Additionally, Mashaba condemned the Democratic Alliance (DA) for its controversial advert depicting a burning South African flag, labeling it divisive and fear-mongering. He suggested that such tactics could alienate communities and exacerbate tensions.
