Several political parties cried foul at the Thusanang Creche and Pre-School voting station in Ward 26 Mokgoba, Etwatwa, this morning after ANC officials were allegedly seen handing out party T-shirts to people waiting to cast their votes.

Representatives from ActionSA and the SACP accused the ANC of breaching Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) rules, claiming the party was campaigning despite political parties being instructed to stop canvassing at midnight.

“They have been doing this since the station opened. It’s against the IEC rules, otherwise we would all be doing it,” said Carly Bikizana, an ActionSA volunteer.

According to the IEC, prohibited activities within the boundaries of a voting station include displaying or distributing party billboards, posters, placards or pamphlets, as well as attempting to influence or persuade voters to support or reject a particular party.

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When the Benoni City Times approached the ANC tent for comment, volunteer Lettiah Motloung initially denied handing out T-shirts to people who were still waiting to vote, saying the party only distributed regalia to those who had already cast their ballots.

However, video footage taken by the City Times shows a community member receiving an ANC T-shirt at the tent. The newspaper could not independently establish whether the person had already voted.

Several people in the snaking queue were also seen with ANC shirts draped over their shoulders or laps, while others used them to shield themselves from the heat.

Pressed on the matter, Motloung admitted that T-shirts had been distributed earlier in the day until an official from the safety department warned the party that the practice amounted to campaigning.

“In the morning an official from safety approached us to warn us about giving out ANC regalia, saying it was campaigning. He told me to stop because it’s wrong. He said I can only hand out T-shirts after people had voted and I can only give to someone who wants it,” she said.

Asked whether she verified that recipients had voted, Motloung said: “Yes, I check their finger because I don’t want any problems for my party.”

Presiding officer at the voting station Thulisile Nhlapho confirmed that political parties were not allowed to campaign near the voting station, engage voters or distribute party regalia to those waiting to vote.

“I’m not aware that campaigning ended at midnight. What I know is that political parties are not allowed to campaign near the voting station,” she said.

After being alerted to people in party regalia allegedly engaging voters near the queue, Nhlapho said she would investigate.

“They are not allowed to be anywhere near the people queuing to vote. I will go verify this,” she said.

Nhlapho added that voters wearing party colours were being turned away, as were people attempting to bring food or water to party agents inside the voting station while wearing political regalia.

Sticker shenanigans

In a separate incident at the Christ Over Our Lives Church voting station in Barcelona, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) was accused of allegedly distributing stickers to voters before they entered the station.

A WhatsApp voicenote received by the City Times alleged that PA stickers were found inside the identity documents of elderly voters, while younger voters were given stickers discreetly.

The source note further alleged that IEC officials intervened after a voter entered with a sticker inside his ID, prompting a meeting between the IEC area manager and a PA representative, during which the party was reportedly instructed to stop.

The Benoni City Times could not independently verify the allegations with the presiding officer or IEC area manager.

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