AfriForum sees red over EFF member’s misuse of Tshwane Metro resources
A sea of red – typical of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) brand – has for months defined the official municipal marketing materials of the EFF’s Obakeng Ramabodu, a member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Agriculture Management in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. While these official communications are that of the Tshwane Metro, AfriForum maintains that they represent a clear misuse of municipal resources to boost Ramabodu’s own political profile.
The civil rights organisation has therefore formally requested the Metro today to investigate Ramabodu’s apparent misuse of the Metro’s official communication channels, municipal resources, and taxpayers’ money, and to report on the matter within seven days. AfriForum also requested the Metro to indicate whether Ramabodu’s communication complies with the Metro’s communication policy, the code of conduct for councillors, and applicable legislation, and whether adequate measures are in place to prevent similar incidents.
AfriForum’s revelation regarding Ramabodu’s prolonged misuse follows a similar complaint lodged by the civil rights organisation with the Metro last month concerning the publication of an official cleanup notice. This notice was issued following the EFF’s Youth Day celebration at the Union Buildings. It announced that the Metro would undertake a cleanup operation at the site after a so-called “successful public EEF event” [sic]. The notice, bearing the Metro’s logo, was designed in the distinctive colours of the EFF.
However, this notice was not an isolated incident. Upon closer investigation, AfriForum has since discovered a series of similar official Metro notices from Ramabodu that were circulated on social media. These notices promote various Tshwane Metro programmes and campaigns, including service delivery initiatives, clean-up drives, feedback sessions, the State of the City Address, and other official municipal communications.
According to Llewellynn Hemmens, AfriForum’s Spokesperson for Pretoria, each of these notices serves as an inherent promotion of the EFF, despite the fact that they constitute official Metro communications. “We are dealing here with a persistent pattern of abuse, where the line between official government communication and political marketing has become blurred,” Hemmens explains.
“We cannot allow political parties to misuse taxpayers’ money, municipal staff, and official communication for their own political gain. Every cent that residents pay to the Metro should be used for service delivery – not for political self-promotion. When official municipal communication and resources are used to promote the image of an individual politician, residents’ trust is violated and the principle of a politically impartial public administration is undermined.”
“No one, regardless of their political office or position, may use municipal resources for personal or party-political gain. If this conduct is allowed to continue, it sets a dangerous precedent where taxpayers effectively fund political campaigns,” Hemmens concludes.
AfriForum has given the Metro seven working days to confirm that a formal investigation has been launched and to provide feedback on the process. Should no satisfactory response be received, the organisation will consider further administrative and legal steps to enforce accountability.
