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We do not yet know when the local election will take place, but parties are making their presence felt – and seen – in their bid to attract voters.
Street poles have come alive with party colours, slogans and faces as the race to secure municipalities begins. Looking at the posters, it is clear that most parties have chosen to cash in on their cult currency by using their leaders’ faces. Not the ANC, however: the governing party has steered clear of presenting President Jacob Zuma’s image.
The DA poster projects a “ready for action” pose from party leader Mmusi Maimane, who asks voters to register for change. The official opposition’s campaign theme is around change.
The Economic Freedom Fighters uses its wildly popular commander in chief, Julius Malema, on all its election materials. True to form, he again looks like the cat that got the cream.
Smaller parties like the IFP and the United Democratic Movement feature veteran leaders Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Bantu Holomisa, respectively, as their draw cards – both parties are single-personality entities.
The Freedom Front Plus has also opted to do away with a photo of leader Pieter Mulder, and instead features a young person whose hand is tattooed with the words “Vote for your future”. The blurred face behind the hand does not come across as looking to the future with any hint of optimism – suggesting the party will run a defensive campaign predicting doom.
Several surveys reveal that the ANC is more popular than its president, which may explain why it has chosen to leave him off the posters. Or it may simply mean the party is looking to showcase its local leaders for the local polls.
