The local government elections held on November 1, Monday, were faced with challenges at eMbalenhle.
Political parties and an independent candidate, Mr Khehla Mahlangu, wanted the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC) to close the Ward 4 voting station at eMbalenhle Primary School after it was discovered that voters cast their votes on Ward 10 ballot papers.
This was discovered by the party agents at the voting station in the afternoon after more that 280 voters had already cast their votes.
Political parties summoned IEC management who also noticed wrong ballots were used at the Ward 4 voting station.
The IEC sealed used and unused ballots and then replaced it with the correct ballot papers.
“My face is not there on the ballot, now I have lost many votes because of the IEC’s negligence.
“This was only noticed late with only seven hours that was left before the voting stations closed,” said Mr Mahlangu.
“I believe these elections were not free and fair. Political parties might not have suffered much because they also appeared on the Ward 10 ballots, but I am an independent candidate who only contested Ward 4.
“When we went to a meeting with IEC, they asked whether we wanted the voting to begin afresh or wanted them to conduct by-elections for Ward 4. How can we decide on that because is them who were supposed to tell us what is going to happen,” said Mr Mahlangu.
Some Ward 19 voters didn’t vote when they were sent to other voting stations because their names were not appearing on the voters’ roll. They claimed to have been registered at that particular voting station.
Mr Thanduxolo Chembeni, Mpumalanga IEC communication officer, said they have received a complaint from the eMbalenhle Primary School voting station and it was referred to the provincial political parties liaison committee.
He said they aimed not to deny people of their voting rights.
Mr Chembeni also said if the committee doesn’t agree on the decision that will be taken to resolve the problem, the matter will be referred to the national political parties liaison committee, and if also they don’t agree, then it will then be referred to the IEC commissioner who will make a final decision.
He also said if political parties or any person is aggrieved with the commissioner’s decision, they can take the matter to the electoral court.
Mr Chembeni said the matter is receiving attention form the IEC.
On the issue of people being referred to other voting stations to cast their votes, Mr Chembeni said the municipal demarcation board did demarcations before before elections to redo the boundaries of voting areas.
“After the redrawing of boundaries, voters need to re-register as we always encourage people to come and register before any elections, especially in local government elections.
“If you are a registered voter and relocated to a new voting district, you must re-register in your new voting district.
“You can re-register at your local IEC offices or during public voter registration as announced by the IEC,” said Mr Chembeni.
