PA challenges DA's Simmers: Prove tik-for-votes claims or apologise to George communities

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has demanded DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers provide evidence and a police case number to support his claims that the party distributed tik and cash to George voters in exchange for their votes. The PA issued a deadline of seven days for Simmers to either present the evidence or issue an apology to the affected George communities.

Simmers had described the PA as a "criminal enterprise" during an interview with BizNews, accusing its members of drug dealing and electoral fraud. The PA stated that Simmers had not personally witnessed the alleged incidents and was repeating information from others, including photographs and video footage supposedly submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and information shared with law enforcement.

The PA requested that Simmers release specific details, such as the police station where the alleged offense was reported, the case number, the date of case opening, IEC reference numbers for complaints, and whether the complaints or cases existed. The party criticized Simmers for naming Conville, Rosemoor, and Pacaltsdorp as working-class, predominantly coloured communities, arguing that his claims suggested voters supported the PA due to being given drugs, rather than making their own political choices.

The PA emphasized that such stereotypes were hurtful and that Simmers should reconsider his remarks and apologize to the residents of Conville, Rosemoor, and Pacaltsdorp if he cannot produce the requested evidence.