DRIEKOPPIES – Some members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) feel that this year’s elections were not fair and free.
This came to light on Wednesday May 7 when voting got underway quietly and peacefully in the sub-region, despite previous reports of violence when the ANC and EFF collided in the lead-up to the elections.
All voting stations reportedly opened on time without any delays and at the time of going to press no incidents of violence had been reported at any stations.
EFF members complained about ANC handing out T-shirts and campaigning after the official campaigning deadline of mid-night on Tuesday. There was no serious altercation between the two parties at the Driekoppies Community Hall voting station when the incident occurred.
EFF supporter, Mr Thuli Bhembe, said the elections were not fair and free, and accused IEC officials of siding with the ANC.
“We were hoping that these elections would be fair and free, but what is now happening around our area is so surprising. The ruling party is busy dishing out free T-shirts around our area, and we have been trying to solve this problem. But it is unfortunate because even the IEC officials seem to be in favour of the ruling party,” said Bhembe.
Chairman of the ANC in the Nkomazi sub-region, Mr Million Shongwe, refuted the allegations, “No, we are not campaigning, what we are doing is encouraging people who are sitting at home to go to their local voting stations and vote. What we are doing is collecting the elderly and taking them to voting stations. We were getting reports that the voting turnout at the stations was poor, but since we began announcing that people should go, we are being told that the numbers are increasing. Any other party is welcome to also do the same,” explained Shongwe.
“We have a good story to tell and the story is visible in the lives of the people we work for. Which is why as the ANC, we are confident that we have already won these elections and will continue to govern South Africa.”
Speaking to Corridor Gazette after casting his vote at Mloti Primary School in Buffelspruit, provincial secretary of the UDM, Mr Reuben Masango, said it was important that people understood the value of their vote, as it was the best form of protest action against government.
“We are here today to inform people on how important their vote is. Unfortunately it comes only once in five years. People should not decide to burn down places or protest. A much better form of protest is to vote that you don’t like this ruling government. After this period it will take another five years to take them out. Another thing we are doing is to educate people in the area that it is not wrong to vote for an opposition party. As the opposition we play the role of watchdogs. So we encourage people to come out in numbers and vote for the party of their choice – they should not feel intimidated into voting for any other,” Masango explained.
