GARDEN ROUTE POLITICAL NEWS - The district mayor's self-professed natural enthusiasm for people and politics has been misused by political opportunists to further their own election ambitions.
Fake news posters of DA Mayor Memory Booysen (who is also the DA's East Region Deputy chair) posing with members of the Ikhwezi Political Movement (IPM) in Bitou, have been widely circulated on social media since last weekend.
Although the photo is a true original taken while Booysen visited different parties while canvassing in Plettenberg Bay, it is used to portray Booysen as having abandoned the DA in favour of the IPM and hailing the IPM as the party that will bag the 27 October municipal elections.
"This, of course, is absolute nonsense," says Booysen. "They [IPM] are a new party and took the fact that I engaged with them totally out of context. I always engage with other political parties, but in no way does that mean I have joined them."
The post in question depicts the front page of an online newspaper. Booysen is seen in a cheerful mood, draped in a bright orange IPM branded T-shirt by a member of the IPM, Sinovuyo Kitsi.
Lettering above the photo reads: "If you can't beat them join them", with more writing on the side: "IPM expects to see more leaders into their moving train". The caption states that Booysen sees the IPM as the only organisation that will win the 27 October elections with a majority.
On its Facebook page the IPM uses the same photo with the description: "The Garden Route District Municipality Mayor has acknowledged that IPM is a government in waiting."
Contagious
IPM spokesperson Sivuyile Nkomo said their party did not in any way take part in the construction of fake news. Asked about the poster, he said they don't know where it came from: "It's some online publication. They didn't even ask for comment from anyone."
Nkomo said the party's official communication is on its Facebook page. "Anything else that is not coming from our page does not have our involvement," he said.
According to Nkomo, the response from the community in Ward 6 was so overwhelmingly positive and contagious that even Booysen visited them during their canvassing. "IPM does not deny any member from joining us within our canvassing. We are highly appreciative of the Garden Route Mayor endorsing us as a government in waiting."
Nkomo said the content and footage of the canvassing was captured by the mayor himself, who happily shared it with them.
Tolerance
Booysen wasted no time to release a statement on the matter, saying he took a moment to pose with new and long-standing political parties to promote political tolerance.
"However, it is unfortunate that some political parties took advantage of this and are now spinning fake news promoting perceptions that I've decided to 'jump' to another political party. This is misinformation that intentionally seeks to deceive community members," said Booysen. He said he sees himself as a liberal leader and will continue to express himself within his rights.
"I am not a leader who refuses opposition parties the space to promote their views truthfully."
DA East Region chair Tertuis Simmers said he takes note of the fake post being circulated. "I do so with the knowledge that we are in a local government election year like no other before it. This is another example to all voters to not trust everything they read being circulated as perceptive facts on social media, community WhatsApp / Facebook groups or via party-funded newsletters."
Bitou currently has a hung council. The ANC is in control, but they've been stalling a legal meeting that might see the DA and the Active United Front (AUF) - the kingmaker - to form a coalition. The meeting has been derailed twice.
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