On Monday 3rd May 1999, at the Brits Town Council building, an offensive banner was hung from the flagpole.
The banner, a white cloth bearing a photograph of ANC President, Comrade Thabo Mbeki, bore the legend "Just Another Confused Kaffir". Above comrade Thabo Mbeki's photograph were the words "Drug Addict" with an arrow pointing to him. An arrow was superimposed on comrade Thabo Mbeki's forehead, conveying the obvious message of assassination or the threat thereof.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for this act. But its authors are clearly persons motivated by hatred and deep malice.
During the same weekend, on 2nd May 1999, the Democratic Party (DP) place a highly offensive advert in the issue of the newspaper Rapport.
The DP advertisement carried a picture of ANC Women's League President, comrade Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and bore the legend "Jy kan hierdie vrou stop".
We shall not raise the issue of the unlawful use of comrade Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's photograph, and the near libellous character of the advert. We do however call attention to the advertisement's strongly ad-hominem slant.
While we do not suggest any link between the Brits incident and the DP's advertisement, it is incumbent upon us to caution that personalised attacks and the targeting of specific individuals can lead to dangerous consequences.
We find it alarming that during an election campaign that is threatened with violence - a prominent ANC member, Simon Ngubane, was murdered on Saturday 1st May 1999 - a party that hopes to become the official opposition can stoop to such tactics.
The ANC has placed the matter of the Brits flagpole before the South African Police Services and shall be raising the DP's newspaper advertisement with the IEC.
Parties that have recourse to such methods should consider well the unintended consequences of their actions. The ANC shall hold the DP and its leaders responsible for any untoward incidents that befall comrade Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The sort of hate speech and malice that is beginning to surface during this election campaign is resonant of the past that the ANC is trying to bury. The ANC is confident that the South African voters will deliver a firm rebuff to all parties that employ such retrogressive and divisive tactics on 2nd June.
Issued by: Smuts Ngonyama - Head of ANC Department of Information and Publicity For inquiry contact Thabo Masebe at 082 551 4945
3 May 1999