We are disgusted by the flagrant abuse of former President Nelson Mandela by the Democratic Alliance, which is using his voice in an election advertisement broadcast on YouTube.

The desperate lengths to which the DA will stoop to dupe voters is condemned in the strongest terms. uNkosi Dalibhunga was throughout his life, until his death – by profession, and in the hereafter – a loyal and committed member of the ANC.

Sure, the DA’s lengths are certainly desperate, but by using Madiba’s voice they are merely pointing out the ANC’s failure to deliver what he fought for. The ANC has grossly undermined the very people who gave it power.

Mandela, however, carried on, saying that the DA should have used a voice of its own leader. Under their leadership it had formed “the laager of white privilege since 1994”:

Madiba’s name can never be associated with betrayal of our struggle. The use of his voice in an attempt to lend credibility to a party that has made the preservation of white privilege its raison d’être is vile and untruthful.

It is a violation of the letter and spirit of South Africa’s electoral code for one party to abuse and defile the image of another. In this case, the association of Nkosi Dalibhunga’s name with the DA is an insult and affront to his history, his party of choice, his legacy and the values for which he stood.

However, DA spokesperson Refiloe Ntsekhe said Nelson Mandela belonged to everyone.

When Tata Mandela became a president, he belonged to all of us, not just the ANC. As a president you allow yourself to become public figure and we have every right to use him.

He preached non-racialism and tolerance. This is equally important to the DA and we have to be reminded of what he preached.

Ntsekhe said Mandla Mandela needed to be reminded of the oath Madiba took in Parliament.

He knows as an MP that when you take that oath you belong to all of us.

A very cheeky move by the DA, but at this point in time the ANC is not much better.

Check the ad: