South Africans can expect an eventful year as political parties compete for their attention ahead of the elections.
Election season came early this year as the ANC and the DA have already started throwing mud at each other.
In the latest incident, Western Cape premier Alan Winde attended a sitting of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature in cycling pants, shoes and pink socks.
“Winde was dressed in inappropriate attire, wearing cycling shorts and shoes, much to our horror,” said Khalid Sayed of the ANC.
While the ANC commended Winde for his love of cycling and for maintaining his physical fitness, it labelled his attire as an “insult to the decorum” of the legislature.
“The premier’s dresscode is unbecoming for the authority of the office that he holds and the stature of the legislature. It demonstrates disrespect to the institution, the public it serves, as well as all members and political parties in the house.
ALSO READ: DA billboard mocks Lesufi’s ‘hotel shower’
“The premier’s dress code undermines the dignity of the legislature and illustrates his lack of awareness and appreciation for the leadership position that he holds as the head of government in the Western Cape province.
“We would have expected that the speaker and Winde’s provincial Cabinet colleagues would have acted in the interest of preserving respect for the chamber and the business of the institution, by requesting the premier to vacate the chamber and return appropriately dressed or excuse himself for the remainder of the sitting. The premier’s conduct is less than amusing, and the chamber is not the premier’s personal playground.”
However, the DA in the Western Cape told the ANC to come up with something else to criticise.
“The premier, who cycled to work, after meeting with Cape Town Cycle Tour organisers – a race that injects R500 million into Cape Town’s economy, by the way,” said the party.
ANC vs DA
In Gauteng, the ANC and DA are at each other’s throats over a billboard the party unveiled on Tuesday depicting Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
Last month, Lesufi fell out of favour with Joburg residents who were battling water cuts. In an attempt to tell residents that even he had not been spared from the crisis, he said he had been forced to shower at a hotel.
ALSO READ: ‘My crush? No ways’: Lesufi responds to Zille swipe
Lesufi’s comments sparked a backlash. He later apologised and said the comments were taken out of context.
Now the DA has unveiled a billboard depicting Lesufi taking a shower.
On Thursday, the DA revealed that the ANC had sent a lawyer’s letter demanding that it take down the billboard.
“Hey Lesufi, the legal letter from your ANC lawyers can’t fix the water crisis. But action in government can get water back in the taps. About the shower billboard, we won’t take it down.”
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