IEC not so independent?

IT IS CALLED the Independent Electoral Commission, most often referred to by its initials – the IEC.

Simply put, its mandate is to run credible, free and fair elections without bias.

Perhaps that should be explained to the temporary “officials” who actually run and oversee the elections at ground level.

A Vryheid resident only noticed something in her ID book last week. She had gone to her prescribed voting station in February when a voting registration weekend was held. Her voting station is in High Street, it is a tent erected for the purpose adjacent to the municipal swimming pool, and opposite the old Moth Hall.

What she noticed was that the IEC “official” who had stuck her registration sticker into her ID book, had taken the opportunity to demonstrate her bias by writing in pen on the sticker, “VOTE ANC PLZ”, PLZ possibly meaning “Please” in cellphone shorthand.

The IEC’s media liaison office was asked to comment in this matter, but had failed to do so at the time of going to press.

It has not been established if this was the only case or if other people registered at this particular voting station also were requested to vote for the ANC.

An appeal on the Vryheid Herald’s facebook page received no response.

It does call into question the IEC’s ability to guarantee its independence, already doubted in the AbaQulusi area. In Ward 22 of the municipality, the IEC registered about 1,800 voters who turned out to be irregular, and the question is how this was possible at voting station level?

Were the responsible officials duped or were they coerced or even bribed to turn a blind eye? Certainly not one of the irregular voters is known to have been prosecuted for what is an offence, nor has an orchestrating political party been investigated and prosecuted, and nor, as far as is known, have any of the officials even been investigated.

At the time of going to press, the IEC had also failed to answer questions regarding the by-election in Ward 22, which have been postponed twice. The IEC was asked:

“What is the situation in Ward 22 of AbaQulusi Municipality where a by-election has been postponed twice. Is it true that it is now scheduled for later this month? Has anyone yet, either a irregularly registered voter, a complicit political party or an IEC official, been charged in term of the Act?”

The IEC has yet to answer.