FNB ‘hides behind innocent faces of young people’ – ANC

The ANC will “engage FNB management” about the bank’s “You can help” campaign, which it regards as an attack on the party leadership and government.

“What is of concern to the ANC is that the advert content is undisguised political statement that makes random and untested accusations against our government in the name of discourse,” party spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

“FNB must desist from using school kids to make political statements in a manner that is disrespectful to elders and that disregard sacrifices made in the 18 year of democratic government, to improving the living conditions of those who were on the receiving end of apartheid rule.”

The ANC said the views in the advert were “engineered and doctored”.

“This behaviour by FNB does not assist the country to move forward because such advertisements will breed resentment of government and its programmes of development.”

Earlier, the ANC Youth League said the campaign amounted to treason.

The ANC said it would “engage FNB management to seek a better understand of the advertisement and its intended objectives”.

“We believe that good corporate citizenry calls for responsible and accountable conduct on the side of the business. To hide behind innocent faces of young people will not assist in achieving cooperative national solutions,” Mthembu said.

We asked our readers what they thought of the ANC and ANCYL’s comments on the campaign. Here is a selection of comments:

» @mandlesil: FNB should concern itself with increased banking fees & leave people who are really governing in SA, like ANC

» @nonkumabuza: ANC must listen, issues raised are relevant to all South Africans, well done FNB, I’m inspired to do my bit

» @thembek: ANC attacks everyone who is even slightly critical of government or ANC. No need to take them seriously

» @molotomothapo: Using innocent little kids to parrot insults & political rhetoric from prepared scripts doesn’t help debate

» @rgh7: First Nedbank now FNB. How long can the truth remain counter revolutionary?

FNB explains the reasoning behind the campaign:

Join the debate. Click on the link below:

Talking Point: Is FNB campaign treason?

Read our editorial on the issue: Wait a minute – listen to Gen Y