The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is calling all courageous South Africans who care about the future generations of this country to present the African National Congress (ANC) with the full picture in the upcoming Provincial and National Elections. We cannot allow these scavengers to treat us like carcasses without a Constitution, which the ANC shows no respect for, and we cannot allow our country to be corrupted by criminals with gaps in their integrity.

On Saturday the ANC stooped very low, doing so disrespectfully campaigning on social media (X) using an image of Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, that was not authorised by Deputy Chief Justice Maya or the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ).

The ANC is completely devoid of integrity and dignity, and they show no regard for either the nation’s highest court position or its inhabitants. The ANC is actually nothing more than a front organization for a group of liars, masquerading as leaders.

The UDM commends Deputy Chief Justice Maya and the OCJ for distancing the judicial of this country from the ANC hogwash. The ANC, like any political party must not think they can do as they please with government structures because they have the majority of leaders that are in government. The ANC must learn to differentiate between a political party leader and a government official, even if s/he happens to belong to the organisation.

We are happy that the OCJ has set the record straight in clarifying that Deputy Chief Justice Maya is not a member of the ANC or any other political party. Article 12 (1)(a) of the Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits Judges from belonging to any political party. Yet, the ANC has disrespected the laws of our country by using fraudulently an image of a Judge that falls under Article 12 (1)(a) of the Judicial Code.

The UDM echoes the same sentiments as the OCJ that the unauthorised use of the Deputy Chief Justice’s image has a very big potential to unduly bring the Judiciary into disrepute as well undermining the integrity of the Judiciary as section 165(2) of the Constitution, which provides that the courts are independent and subject only to the Constitution and the law, which they must apply without fear, favour or prejudice.

In conclusion, we are calling on the ANC to unreservedly apologise to South Africans for continuously disrespecting our Constitution, and for disrespecting Deputy Chief Justice Maya because she is a woman, which made her an easy target to the ANC. It’s high that the ANC start drawing the line between the ANC as an organisation and government.

Issued by:
United Democratic Movement National Office
Ms Thandi Nontenja
National Treasurer