MK Party slams Ramaphosa’s pre-election national address

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The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Sunday night.

The MK Party says it is an abuse of power as the speech was delivered just a day before the special votes.

The party has filed papers in the Electoral Court against Ramaphosa.

Party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela says they are committed to a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.

“The president, in this case, is abusing his power by leveraging state infrastructure for partisan reasons and partisan gains, in the sense that, you know, the president had made the state of the nation at risk. The president effectively now uses his presidential power to call on all media outlets in the midst of the eve of an election day, or Election Day, and effectively campaign for his party – and that is abuse of office and his power.”

PODCAST | MK Party files papers at the Electoral Court against President Cyril Ramaphosa:

DA also accuses Ramaphosa of abusing his power 

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has also filed papers at the Electoral Court against Ramaphosa over Sunday’s address to the nation.

The party accuses Ramaphosa of being in violation of the Electoral Act and is asking that the votes of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to be reduced by one percent.

The DA accuses Ramaphosa of abusing his position and public funds to campaign for the ANC.

The official opposition says the president used his position as head of state to garner votes for the governing party.

‘No legal basis’

Former President Kgalema Motlanthe says there is no basis for the DA’s legal challenge against the president’s address.

“The president remains the president until a new president is elected and inaugurated, so his duties don’t end. The duties of the state continue even as we go into elections. So, I don’t know if this hullabaloo about the president’s address to the nation has any legal basis. I don’t think it has any legal basis.”

The @Our_DA also wants a fine of R200 000 imposed on President @CyrilRamaphosa #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/OYYSV78mff

— Zoleka Qodashe (@ZOLEKV_Q) May 28, 2024

VIDEO | Motlanthe casts his vote:

-Additional reporting by Zoleka Qodashe