Supporters Take Election Campaigns To The Streets

As election fever mounts, political parties and their members are doing whatever they can to market their party - and what better way to do that than placing removable stickers on their flashy cars.

Parties have taken their battle for votes in this year's election literally onto the streets by using mobile advertising.

Motorists and passersby will either see the serious face of UDM leader Bantu Holomisa accompanied by a call to "Vote UDM" poster or the smiling ANC president Jacob Zuma - accompanied by the call to "Vote ANC" to get "A better life for all".

At the weekend some cars had the Cope message: "The new agenda for change and hope for all" branded on their vehicles.

Sitting proudly on his Citi Golf was Mandla Faltein. The bonnet of his car is covered with a UDM poster.

"I got this poster in our previous campaign before our manifesto launch last week. I will keep it until the elections are over," said Faltein.

UDM regional chairman Mongameli Bobani said the party had spent millions in branding the party for these elections.

"The money was generated from loyal supporters who sold their cattle and other assets so that they could donate money to the movement".

The ruling party had set aside a budget of R100 000 to brand the cars of active members ahead of the party's manifesto launch held in East London on January 10.

ANC national organising and campaign manager Mduduzi Ntuli said about 300 cars in Eastern Cape were branded for the ANC.

Self-employed Sicelo Apleni, who drives a 15-seater Caravelle, had 11 ANC stickers on his car.

Veliswa Ndidi, who is the owner of a black Toyota Yaris, had the ANC poster outside and inside her car.

"I want my organisation to be visible, especially at this time of the year."

The ANC had asked some of its members to go and brand the party.

"Our primary aim now until the election is to make sure that we campaign and show people that the ANC is here and ready to govern."

Some of Cope's supporters whose vehicles had posters displaying the party's leaders took the movie posters off after their election manifesto was launched.

Said one: "I could not display Cope's poster or sticker in my car because one never knows who might do what to it. I work in a place where the majority of people support the ruling party so to avoid any victimisation I do not carry any stickers. I also don't wear Cope's T-shirts unless we are campaigning."

Eastern Cape Cope chairman Andile Nkuhlu said since the party was still starting out they were selling their stickers and posters to the party's supporters.

"The price ranges from R30 to R150 depending on how big the posters are".

Nkuhlu said people had volunteered to sell the stickers at their offices around the province and most of them intend to keep them until the election is over.

February 02, 2009