Urgent interdict sought over branded poster ahead of George by-elections

GEORGE NEWS - An application for an urgent interdict is set to be heard in the High Court in Cape Town this morning at 11:00, following a dispute over an online poster circulated days before the recent by-elections in George.

The matter centres on an online image depicting, among others, four African National Congress (ANC) councillors serving on the George Council, which the ANC claims was unlawfully branded by the Democratic Alliance (DA) during the final days of the campaign.

Responding to the allegations, DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers said the party rejects any suggestion of wrongdoing. “The DA notes the ANC’s statement, rejects any suggestion of wrongdoing, and will address the matter through the appropriate channels while remaining focused on service delivery,” Simmers said.

In a statement issued yesterday, 21 January, ANC councillors depicted in the poster said they had taken urgent legal steps to protect both their personal integrity and the integrity of the electoral process.

The poster that caused the trouble.

According to the ANC, the image originated from a municipal housing handover organised and funded by the George Municipality, which they allege was “cynically hijacked” and converted into a DA campaign tool featuring party branding and an explicit call to vote for the DA.

The ANC councillors argue that the use of the image occurred without their consent and constituted a violation of electoral law, constitutional principles and the Electoral Code of Conduct.

They further claim that the DA was formally served with letters of demand calling for the immediate removal of the publication but failed to comply.

As a result, the councillors have approached the court on an urgent basis, seeking interdictory relief, declaratory orders and enforcement action to prevent what they describe as the continued misleading of voters, the abuse of municipal resources and the false portrayal of ANC councillors as endorsing a rival political party.

In addition to the court application, the ANC confirmed that a formal complaint has been lodged with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), arguing that the matter represents an ongoing breach of the Electoral Code of Conduct during a particularly sensitive phase of the by-election campaign.

“Let it be stated without ambiguity: we do not support the Democratic Alliance,” the ANC councillors said. “We reject their lies, and we will not be silent while our images, names and public service are weaponised for electoral manipulation.”

The statement, issued on behalf of the councillors cited in the court affidavit, including Councillor Faith Nontembeko Mdaka, emphasised that municipal service delivery should not be used as a campaign tool and that the municipality does not belong to any political party.

The High Court is expected to hear arguments from both sides later this morning.

The ANC reacts with a poster of their own.

Also read:

• High Court bars DA from using ANC councillors’ images on George campaign posters

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