Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela has found that there is no “conclusive” evidence showing abuse and misuse of state resources to advance the African National Congress’s electoral campaign in the Free State in 2011.
Madonsela on Thursday released two reports on allegations of failure to separate state and party.
One report focused on alleged abuse of state resources to advance the ANC campaign for the 2011 local government elections in the Free State‚ while the other one was on allegations of maladministration by the Social Development Department regarding the distribution of food parcels in Phillipi and Heinz Park‚ Cape Town‚ in 2009.
Madonsela said her office received complaints from opposition parties and members of the public‚ who claimed that Free State Premier Ace Magashule was using state resources to advance the ANC’s electoral campaign under “Operation Hlasela”‚ which he launched in 2011.
The allegations also included corruption in the awarding of tenders and other contracts under “Operation Hlasela”. Madonsela said a report would follow detailing her findings on these allegations.
The Public Protector said the ANC had advertised the campaign as a “vehicle aimed at accelerating service delivery particularly with a view to combating poverty and enhancing housing service delivery”.
She said she had held a meeting with Magashule at the commencement of the investigation and he told her that there were two programmes using the name “Operation Hlasela”.
“He explained that one was a government service delivery vehicle‚ while another was a private initiative seeking to reinforce government efforts primarily aimed at housing delivery.”
Magashule conceded that the logos of the two campaigns were the same‚ resulting in confusion‚ Madonsela said in the report.
“There is no conclusive evidence showing abuse or misuse of state resources to advance the ANC’s electoral campaign during the 2011 local government elections‚” Madonsela stated.
She found however that other parties were prejudiced by the campaign.
She directed Magashule to ensure that a provincial policy was developed setting out a clear separation between state and party activities.
The private “Operation Hlasela” has since been renamed.
No ‘conclusive’ evidence that state resources used to advance Free State ANC election campaign‚ says Madonsela
Madonsela on Thursday released two reports on allegations of failure to separate state and party.
One report focused on alleged abuse of state resources to advance the ANC campaign for the 2011 local government elections in the Free State‚ while the other one was on allegations of maladministration by the Social Development Department regarding the distribution of food parcels in Phillipi and Heinz Park‚ Cape Town‚ in 2009.
Madonsela said her office received complaints from opposition parties and members of the public‚ who claimed that Free State Premier Ace Magashule was using state resources to advance the ANC’s electoral campaign under “Operation Hlasela”‚ which he launched in 2011.
The allegations also included corruption in the awarding of tenders and other contracts under “Operation Hlasela”. Madonsela said a report would follow detailing her findings on these allegations.
The Public Protector said the ANC had advertised the campaign as a “vehicle aimed at accelerating service delivery particularly with a view to combating poverty and enhancing housing service delivery”.
She said she had held a meeting with Magashule at the commencement of the investigation and he told her that there were two programmes using the name “Operation Hlasela”.
“He explained that one was a government service delivery vehicle‚ while another was a private initiative seeking to reinforce government efforts primarily aimed at housing delivery.”
Magashule conceded that the logos of the two campaigns were the same‚ resulting in confusion‚ Madonsela said in the report.
“There is no conclusive evidence showing abuse or misuse of state resources to advance the ANC’s electoral campaign during the 2011 local government elections‚” Madonsela stated.
She found however that other parties were prejudiced by the campaign.
She directed Magashule to ensure that a provincial policy was developed setting out a clear separation between state and party activities.
The private “Operation Hlasela” has since been renamed.
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