The IEC has raised concerns about reports of rising instances of electoral fraud, especially in KwaZulu-Natal.
|||Durban - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has raised concerns about reports of rising instances of electoral fraud, especially in KwaZulu-Natal.
Briefing members of the KZN legislature, the commission chairwoman, advocate Pansy Tlakula, said the busing of people was a “big problem”, especially during by-elections, when people were bused into wards in which they were not eligible to vote.
“We are seeing the phenomenon increasing to the extent that two by-elections in this province had to be postponed through court orders… We have put mechanisms in place to deal with the problem, but it seems that the political parties outdo us.”
Tlakula called on political parties to take strong action against members who might be involved in such activities, which had the potential to undermine the commission and the integrity of the elections.
She said the commission had acted against its staff implicated in such activities. One such IEC staffer had resigned because the commission was about to fire her, Tlakula told MPLs.
ANC MPL Sipho KK Nkosi said the busing of people during elections in KZN was “as old as the first election”.
He called for drastic action against parties found guilty of doing this, saying the IEC should look at disqualifying parties because it was “corruption of the highest order”.
The IEC said parties found guilty could be disqualified because this was one of the sanctions prescribed in the Electoral Act.
Tlakula said the IEC would embark on a voter education drive, which would also be directed at communities in volatile areas. The IEC did not want those who lived in areas where there were protests to forfeit their right to vote because they were angry, Tlakula said.
During the briefing, the IFP expressed concern about the use of South African Democratic Teachers Union members as electoral staff during elections.
IFP MPL Mntomuhle Khawula said such members could not be entrusted with running voting stations because their union was affiliated to Cosatu, which was allied to the ANC.
The IEC said it could not disqualify people on the basis that they belonged to a particular union. However, people who were office-bearers in any political party or in organisations affiliated to political parties were prohibited from acting as electoral staff.
Because some schools were used as voting stations, it became important to use teachers as electoral staff, Tlakula said.
DA provincial leader, Sizwe Mchunu, said the party had made a proposal to the IEC to look at a system that could confirm voters’ residential addresses.
“There have been cases where voters have listed open spaces or unoccupied land as a residential address.”
Mchunu said his party was concerned about the increase in electoral fraud and that all political party leaders met the IEC after its briefing for a frank discussion.
“We’re committed to ensuring the elections are free, fair and not prejudiced and have called on all parties not to compromise the integrity of democracy.”
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said the ANC had often been a victim of electoral fraud and are happy the problem of busing in voters is being addressed.
“Yesterday [Wednesday], we raised the issue with the IEC giving examples of problems at previous by-elections such as those in Nkandla and KwaNongoma where an IEC official was fired. This is affecting us and there is serious concern about the coming by-elections in KwaMashu. Previously, people from afar such as Ndwedwe have been bused in to vote,” he said.
The MF’s Patrick Pillay said the busing in of voters had been a common problem over the years.
“We shouldn’t be seen as making a mockery of the electoral process. The MF has always insisted that its members not engage in this activity,” he said.
bheki.mbanjwa@inl.co.za
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