PR expert tells of ANC municipal poll ‘war room’ shambles in lawsuit for R2.2m payment

A R50m "war room" set up to ensure ANC victory in last year’s municipal elections was characterised by incompetence‚ unprofessionalism and lack of accountability.

A PR expert has taken the ANC to court‚ claiming she was owed R2.2m for work her company did in the campaign — and spilled the beans on how it flopped and was canned with the millions not coming through.

Sihle Bolani Communications (SBC) tried in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday to get the money it says it is owed, but the court ruled the case was not urgent.

SBC’s MD, Sihle Bolani, said in court papers the task team was put together by Joseph Nkadimeng‚ a businessman with ties to the ANC‚ and Shaka Sisulu‚ whose grandfather was ANC stalwart Walter Sisulu.

Bolani claimed nine companies‚ including Phat Joe’s KTI Media‚ were in on the plan.

The "war room" was focused on enhancing the ANC’s presence on social media while discrediting the rival DA and EFF by printing fake election posters‚ producing articles for a website called The New South African and material for a TV show.

But a project report Bolani submitted to the ANC in November last year did not paint a rosy picture of the team’s work.

She said there was not enough office space for the team‚ no access to daily newspapers‚ magazines or petty cash. The core of the problem‚ she said‚ was incompetence‚ nondelivery and unprofessionalism.

For example‚ she said, the team agreed to produce and plant EFF posters to disarm the opposition. She asked if the person responsible planned to "plant" callers on radio stations to draw attention to the posters, but was told there was no need as the posters would be at busy intersections.

But the posters went largely unnoticed.

Bolani said Sisulu reported to the office "intoxicated" and wearing clothes from the night before. "Mr Nkadimeng had to go buy Mr Sisulu a new shirt before they attended an offsite meeting. Mr Sisulu’s behaviour gave the impression that he did not take the project seriously‚" said the report.

Lack of invoice payments meant KTI Media could not procure high-quality equipment to record videos. There was no Wi-Fi, and all data used and telephone calls made ended up being for her personal account.

—  “It went beyond the bounds of normal behaviour in terms of campaigning, which was obviously an admission of the ANC that they had their back against the wall so they needed to use extrajudicial measures.”

Sisulu was not available for comment, but tweeted that the report was "fake news".

Political analyst Mcebisi Ndletyana said if there was evidence of sabotaging of political parties it would prove desperation on the ANC’s part.

"It went beyond the bounds of normal behaviour in terms of campaigning, which was obviously an admission of the ANC that they had their back against the wall so they needed to use extrajudicial measures," said Ndletyana.

Analyst Andre Duvanhage said: "Politics is not always a democratic process. In essence, it’s about power and how to keep and control power as far as possible. In that context, dirty politics is part of the game."

ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said: "Their activities were not sanctioned by the ANC, and consequently we distance ourselves against any insinuation that any such campaign was known to or approved by the African National Congress."

However‚ it was said in court papers that the party agreed to pay Bolani R1m in a settlement agreement – without admitting there was a contract – after she demanded payment for her services.

Bolani‚ speaking on radio 702 on Tuesday afternoon‚ was adamant that she worked on behalf of the ANC and had an agreement with the party.

The DA said fake posters‚ fake news agencies and television shows were an extreme abuse of democratic processes. If true‚ the allegations showed the ANC was willing to manipulate and undermine ethical democratic conduct and action to ensure continued power.

EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said: "This is very much like the ANC. We heard from various sources that the ANC had considered this tactic.

"They went as far as putting celebrities on their payroll to campaign for them … they knew they had lost their urban relevance."

He said no amount of propaganda could restore the reputation of a "party of thieves".

TMG Digital