DA lays charge against ANC over Alex unrest

THE ANC in Gauteng has dismissed allegations by the DA that it was responsible for the violence in Alexandra.

The ANC said the criminal charge laid against it by the DA was a desperate attempt by the opposition party to inject life into its alleged failure to govern the City of Joburg.

ANC deputy chairperson Panyaza Lesufi made the claim moments after the DA’s premier candidate Solly Msimanga opened a criminal charge against the ANC at the Alexandra police station yesterday.

In his affidavit, Msimanga said he had “evidence of how the ANC was conspiring to instigate violence by co-ordinating plans with local affiliates on the ground to embark on violent protest actions and sow anarchy”.

The DA had seen WhatsApp messages from a Sanco (SA National Civic Organisation) group, “where activities aimed against Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba were co-ordinated”.

“We’ve also seen a WhatsApp exchange where one of the organisers infers that their actions are being supported by the ANC.

“Further digging on social media revealed the organisers were wearing ANC regalia.

“The protest is being led by ANC ward councillors and not the legitimate community leadership who have raised issues with the City of Johannesburg.

“The councillors have blocked efforts by the city to hold meetings with community leadership.

“The ANC is running scared of losing the elections on May 8 and will stop at nothing to hang on to power in Gauteng,” Msimanga said.

But the ANC said the criminal charge was a “cheap stunt by the DA”, with Lesufi saying the party was now resorting to opening a police case on trumped-up charges of alleged incitement of violence against the ANC.

“The DA’s campaign is floundering in Gauteng since the party deployed another failed former mayor of Tshwane to be its premier candidate and the DA is now desperate to find relevance,” Lesufi said.

He said the DA must not hide behind the ANC and use it as an excuse for its dismal failure to respond to the plight of the people of Alexandra since taking over the City of Joburg in 2016.

“Instead of meeting the people of Alexandra who have requested, rightly so, to meet their elected local government leadership led by the absent mayor Herman Mashaba, the DA decides to open a case against the ANC.”