GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Last week both the ANC and the CSA issued press statements to express their discontent with a report titled "ANC in coalition with the CSA?" that was published on the from page of Graaff-Reinet Advertiser, 19 November 2021.

Graaff-Reinet Advertiser did not obtain the comment from the CSA in response to the fact that "CSA members, who have not officially been informed of the alleged coalition decision, have taken to social media and other platforms to demonstrate their disappointment" and that "these members feel resentful and indicate that they would have voted differently or that they would not have voted at all if they knew that their vote would be used to keep the ANC in power."

Graaff-Reinet Advertiser also did not obtain comment from the CSA in response to the allegation that "CSA members based in Graaff-Reinet who have confronted the CSA leadership about the allegations relating to the coalition have been blocked and removed from all CSA platforms" and that "disgruntled CSA members based in Willowmore also indicated that they will confront the leadership about the allegations."

Graaff-Reinet Advertiser apologises for failing to do so.

Graaff-Reinet Advertiser failed to obtain any comment from the ANC in response to any of the allegations and apologises for failing to do so. Graaff-Reinet Advertiser would like to emphasize the fact that the report did not confirm the legitimacy or otherwise of any of the allegations made.

The ANC stated that the party is in discussion with all the political parties that managed to get seats in the Dr Beyers Naude local municipality and that such discussions are taking place at national level in accordance with a National Framework that was developed to guide these discussions.

With regard to the CSA, the ANC stated that the CSA is a local political party that does not have a footprint at national level yet and that the NEC and PEC of the ANC have, therefore, resolved to delegate the responsibility of discussions with the CSA to the REC of Sarah Baartman district municipality. The responsible office is that of the Regional Chairperson, Scara Njadayi.

The ANC denies that it has offered the leader of the CSA a bribe of R500 000. 

"The ANC does not even enough money to settle debt arising out of the Local Government Elections. It is even struggling to pay its employees. Where does it get such an amount to bribe people? 

The ANC put ahead of everything its manifesto priorities in the coalition engagements and take cognisance of the issues raised by the people such as the municipality vs the Eskom electricity rates hike which causes divisions and has a potential of eroding unity and social cohesion within our communities in Graaff-Reinet."

The CSA confirmed that the party president and national leadership are in talks with political parties to form a possible coalition in the Dr Beyers Naude Municipality. "To date, no agreement was signed with any political party," the CSA statement read. In response to the bribery allegation, the party stated: 

"We have absolutely not received any bribes of any nature from any party, including the ANC, throughout our campaign or after the LGE2021 and would like to make it clear that our loyalty lies with our people to ensure that their interests are at all times prioritised and not that of our own. Our number one goal is to be the voice of our people and restore our people’s dignity."

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