FF Plus places candidate on suspension after allegedly removing ANC posters - News24
The FF Plus has suspended a councillor candidate in KwaZulu-Natal following allegations that the candidate removed the ANC’s posters in Margate.
The party’s chairperson and spokesperson Wouter Wessels told News24 that the party suspended the candidate’s membership and that the candidate is facing a disciplinary process after the party became aware of the allegations.
The candidate was arrested on Thursday, along with another individual who was also alleged to have removed ANC posters.
Meanwhile, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has said that elections must be “contested through ideas, policies and service-delivery records, not through intimidation, sabotage or the unlawful interference with opponents’ campaigns”.
On 19 October, the ANC raised concerns that the FF Plus and the MK Party allegedly removed party posters in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The arrests on Thursday, 29 October 2026, follow reports that the people had evaded police. They are being held at the Margate police station and are expected to appear before the Port Shepstone Regional Court today, Friday, 30 October 2026,” said the ANC in a statement issued this morning.
ANC KZN WELCOMES ARREST OF VF PLUS CANDIDATE OVER ALLEGED REMOVAL OF ANC ELECTION MATERIALS pic.twitter.com/ToVrbBHrD6
The ANC is among the big parties jostling for control of KwaZulu-Natal, alongside the IFP and the MK Party. Many opinion polls, including a News24 SABI poll, have predicted a decline for the ANC in the province and the eThekwini metro, with the MK being in pole position.
Wessels told News24 the party condemned any violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct, in particular, the removal of other parties’ election material.
“It’s something that we do not do,” said Wessels.
He said the party became aware of the matter in mid-October, and within days, suspended the individual.
Such behaviour, Wessels said, was “undisciplined and it will not and is not tolerated in our party”.
The ANC said the arrest marks “an important step towards establishing the facts and ensuring accountability through due legal process”.
“The ANC will not accept electoral lawlessness masquerading as political competition.”
The ANC said the removal of campaign materials “strikes at the heart of democratic participation, undermining the right of political organisations to campaign freely and the right of voters to make informed choices without interference”.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa must monitor the matter, said the ANC, and “take appropriate action where violations are established”. These include legally permissible sanctions, such as disqualifications for those involved, the party said.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza told News24 on Friday morning that Margate police opened a case under the Electoral Act following the removal of posters in Margate Extension 2 on 15 October.
“It is alleged that two suspects, unknown to the complainant, were seen removing posters and loading them into the vehicle,” he said.
On Thursday, the two individuals, aged 63 and 20, were arrested and released on R1 000 bail each. They are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
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