FF Plus Suspends Candidate Following Arrest Over Removed ANC Posters

The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) has suspended a councillor candidate in KwaZulu-Natal following allegations that the individual was involved in removing African National Congress (ANC) campaign posters in Margate. The candidate was arrested on Thursday alongside another individual after police investigated complaints regarding electoral interference.

Wouter Wessels, the national chairperson and spokesperson for the FF Plus, confirmed that the party suspended the candidate's membership immediately after becoming aware of the allegations. Wessels stated that the party is currently initiating an internal disciplinary process against the individual.

According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza, Margate police opened a case under the Electoral Act after witnesses reported seeing two suspects removing posters and loading them into a vehicle on October 15 in Margate Extension 2. Following the investigation, two suspects aged 63 and 20 were arrested on Thursday, released on R1,000 bail each, and scheduled to appear in court.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal welcomed the police action, calling the arrests an important step toward establishing facts and ensuring legal accountability. The governing party stated that democratic elections must be contested through ideas, policies, and service delivery records rather than intimidation, sabotage, or the unlawful removal of opposition materials.

The ANC originally raised concerns on October 19, alleging that members of both the FF Plus and the MK Party were responsible for removing its campaign posters across the province. The party emphasized that such actions strike at the heart of democratic participation by undermining the ability of political organizations to campaign freely.

Furthermore, the ANC urged the Electoral Commission of South Africa to closely monitor the situation and apply legally permissible sanctions, including potential disqualifications for individuals found to have violated electoral rules. The party asserted that it will not tolerate electoral lawlessness disguised as political competition.

Wessels reiterated that his party strongly condemns any violations of the Electoral Code of Conduct, particularly the destruction or removal of rival election materials. Describing the behavior as undisciplined, Wessels emphasized that such actions are strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated within the organization as political parties jostle for control of KwaZulu-Natal municipalities and the eThekwini metro.