A Know Your Power (KYP) candidate says her name was placed on the party’s candidate lists for several wards without her consent, after she had agreed to contest only one ward before resigning from the party.

Bronwyn Rodriguez, an activist and media personality from Fourways, said she discovered her name had appeared on candidate lists for additional wards after a friend sent her a picture asking why she was running for another ward. “I never knew about these other four wards. I was never told about them, never asked about them, never signed anything,” said Rodriguez.

She said she was initially approached by KYP because of her social media work and activism in Diepsloot. Rodriguez explained that the party wanted her to contest a ward because of her community work, but she told officials she wanted to run in Ward 95, where she was already active. Her stated intention was to use the position to help the community and gain access to funding for projects. However, about two weeks after joining the party, Rodriguez said an unidentified person allegedly attempted to stab her in Diepsloot.

She said she had security with her at the time but decided that her safety, particularly as a single mother with a child with special needs, had to come first. “I want to help people, but not for my life,” she said.

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Rodriguez said she resigned from KYP on July 30 and arranged for another person to replace her in Ward 95. She said she was therefore surprised to later find her name appearing as a candidate in other wards.

After contacting the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), Rodriguez said she was informed that her name had already been printed on the ballot paper and could not be removed. She said she asked whether her signature had been copied or whether documentation had been submitted to confirm her nomination. According to Rodriguez, the IEC said the matter would have to be investigated and referred to its legal team. She was also advised to approach the police if she believed her identity had been used unlawfully.

Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed that a fraud case was opened at Douglasdale Police Station on September 19. “No arrests have been made at this stage, and investigations are ongoing,” said Sibeko.

KYP president Galston Anthony said he did not personally handle Rodriguez’s nomination documents or have access to the IEC systems used for the nomination process. When asked which wards Rodriguez had been nominated for, Anthony said: “Fourways where she lives, and where we invited and visited her place. I believe it to be Ward 94, if not 95. We started off there, and we were happy, then later on, she said no. I would be so much better off in wards 95 or 96, which is Diepsloot.” Anthony added that he believed Rodriguez eventually signed for Ward 96, though he stressed he could be mistaken about the exact ward numbers.

When asked about the procedure followed when Rodriguez signed to become a ward candidate, Anthony said he did not personally handle that part of the process. “I saw her signatures [on the] nominations, along with two other people that joined her. They’ve been signed, but that was not sent to me, in my personal capacity,” Anthony said.

He said the documents were handled through the chairperson’s office, which declined to comment. Anthony added that he did not have access to the IEC systems and clarified that he had not seen Rodriguez’s signatures for several other wards. “I believe either it’s 94, 95, 96, one of the three. I don’t remember off the top,” he said.

When asked whether he had investigated the additional wards after Rodriguez raised the allegations, Anthony said she had approached the wrong person within the party, noting she should speak to the chairperson as that office deals with nominations. However, Anthony said he did make enquiries after Rodriguez raised the issue with him. “She sends it to me, and then I look at it, I said, let me call you back,” Anthony said.

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He said he then contacted the chairperson’s office and was told the situation could have resulted from confusion over the wards Rodriguez had changed between. “I don’t know how it got there or how it happened. It may have been the confusion of her changing wards. I am not sure,” Anthony said.

Anthony noted that KYP had already decided Rodriguez would no longer contest on its behalf, but added: “However, we can’t change what the IEC has put there. Once the IEC has closed that process, there’s nothing we can do.”

He said KYP had seen examples where candidates appeared under wards different from those they intended to contest, which could require internal or external investigation. “So, if it’s internal, what I can do is fire the person or give them a warning. Simple,” Anthony said.

Anthony said KYP had seen Rodriguez’s name on the additional ward lists but had not seen signatures for those wards. “Remember, at this stage, when we found out, we were happy to make the correction. However, the IEC closes that process and there’s nothing you can do,” he said. Anthony disputed the basis of the fraud allegation, stating there was no criminal activity and that he had not seen evidence of a signature being forged or misused.

Regarding her resignation, Anthony said Rodriguez had told him she was receiving death threats and that there had been threats involving her son. He said he had accompanied Rodriguez to Diepsloot when an individual pulled a knife on them. He said her safety was the main reason she decided to leave.

Anthony added that he believed Rodriguez’s public allegations could expose her to legal action, including criminal injuria and defamation proceedings, which he intended to pursue. “I will definitely make sure those civil matters are dealt with her, and I will deal with her properly,” Anthony said, adding that while he had no personal problem with Rodriguez, he believed her statements were damaging the party.

The IEC’s Boitumelo Monaki had not provided comment at the time of publication.

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