IEC puts Faku, ANC under the microscope

Buffalo City Metro mayor Princess Fakuandthe Eastern Cape ANCare being investigated bythe Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)over allegations of misrepresentation and the misuse of municipal resources for election purposes. Faku, the regional chair ofthe ANC in the WB Rubusana region, has been accused of “hijacking” municipal events to campaign for the ANC. Both the municipality and the ANC announced that Faku would be in Tsholomnqa on February 13 and 18, to hand over school shoes, toiletries and blankets to Ward 32 residents.

The ward, which has been without a councillor since Ntombekhaya Sabana died in 2025, is scheduled to hold a by-election on March 18. The DA accused Faku of campaigning for the ANC at the municipal functions. At the February 13 event, where school shoes and toiletries were handed over, the mayor was photographed in full ANC regalia against a background of municipal banners and insignia.

The IEC’s lawyers wrote to the ANC last week, requesting it to provide a detailed response to the allegations. It is understood that the party was given until the close of business on Thursday last week to submit its response. The IEC’s email to the ANC’s lawyers referred to allegations of a possible violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct as well as the possible use of BCM funds for party campaigning.

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Metro spokesperson Bongani Fuzile denied the accusations. “Let us state this unequivocally: this allegation is false, reckless and devoid of any factual basis.

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