ANC ward ‘irregularities’ raised

OPPOSITION parties are looking to have the local government results in Ward 3 in Inanda nullified, citing irregularities during the voting day last week.

The IFP and other parties have lodged a complaint with the Electoral Commission of South Africa. The commission has withheld the results pending the complaint.

Provincial commissioner Mawethu Mosery said he could not confirm or deny the issues raised, saying the objections were lodged at the national office.

Zamokuhle Mkhize, an IFP activist in the area, told The Mercury there were was a string of irregularities, especially the conduct of the presiding officer at one of the voting stations in Ward 3.

“The first concern was that she chased away a member who had come to vote wearing a shirt of his party. She told that person to go outside and take off the T-shirt and come back and vote.

“That was strange because we understand that only the officials employed by the commissioner are not allowed to wear their party regalia at the voting station,” said Mkhize.

He alleged that the presiding officer colluded with ruling party officials at the station to try to influence voting.

Stickers

“She was giving out stickers or what looked like business cards to the voters with the ANC officials, reminding them how to vote. This was happening inside the voting station.”

The community complained and the police were called in.

Mkhize said another member of the election team called the commission about the situation, which said the affected ballot box should be closed by IEC officials.

“The police took the ballot box and tried to leave with it. We stopped them and asked where they were taking it,” said Mkhize.

He said police then returned with the ballot box.

Another concern was about boxes being delivered to the voting station from outside. “There was a silver-grey Toyota Etios that was driving around delivering election boxes to voting stations.

“We asked where those boxes were coming from and why they were being brought to voting stations while counting was still happening at that voting station,” he said.

Following a meeting yesterday attended by the IFP and two independent candidates, IFP member Hassan Motala, who claimed to have been present when some of the irregularities occurred, said the commission was obliged to make a decision.

“They cannot withhold the result for too long, there is no ward councillor in that community,” he said.