DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille has downplayed the apparent presence of DA members wearing ANC regalia at the ANC’s manifesto launch this past weekend.
The DA members were seen at the event ahead of the November Local Government Elections, prompting criticism from ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.
However, Zille has dismissed the incident, saying the ANC manifesto launch was a public event that was open to everyone.
She was speaking to journalists in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
“It was an open public meeting. Anyone can go to any public meeting. They didn’t say ‘right of admission reserved’,” Zille said.
She said the DA’s media team attended the event to capture what she described as an “absurd” moment, adding that they “found many”.
Zille said she would also welcome ANC members attending DA events.
“Of course, I’m sure the ANC comes to all our events,” she said.
She went further, encouraging ANC members to attend DA events to observe how the party organises its gatherings.
“I wish they could come to our events to observe, like we did. To learn how to run an event, to start on time, to get people there and to manage the process,” Zille said.
Mbalula has hit back at the DA, calling on the party to focus on its own affairs rather than criticising the ANC’s manifesto launch.
He dismissed criticism of the event, saying the rally was “packed to capacity”.
Mbalula also took aim at Zille, accusing the DA of deliberately encroaching on ANC events as part of its media strategy.
“Sorry [Helen] Zille and your espionage. You wish that rally could not have been a success, but it was a great success. But thank you for popularising our event,” Mbalula said.
He added:
“That is their media strategy, they encroach into our events.”
The exchange comes as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the November Local Government Elections.
Seventy-five-year-old Zille is hoping to become only the second woman to serve as Johannesburg mayor, following former mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse.
