Durban - Opposition parties and experts have called on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to be empowered to act against the use of state events to campaign during the election period.

National deputy chief Mawethu Mosery said on Thursday that the IEC did not have laws to regulate the use of state events to campaign.

“It is something we did not even attempt to regulate,” said Mosery.

ANC leaders this week called for people at an event organised by the Department of Labour in Ilembe District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), to vote for their party.

DA provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango said the abuse of state events was prevalent in the province.