Political parties who were contesting local government elections received the official elections results from the Mpumalanga Political Parties Liaison Committee (MPLC) on Monday, November 8.
The meeting was held at Govan Mbeki Municipality’s council chamber where the Independent Electoral Commission presented each party performance during elections.
Some political parties applauded the IEC for successful handling the local government elections while others were not satisfied, especially with regards to eMbalenhle’s Ward 4 results where wrong ballot papers were used.
Independent candidate, Mr Khehla Mahlangu, said the IEC is not clear on what are they doing about the Ward 4 elections results.
He alleges that the commission is playing hide and seek.
“The IEC said a resolution had been taken about results of the polling station at the eMbalenhle Primary School, but when we want the attendants’ register and minutes of that meeting, we were told that they were not typed.
“They said we can have the attendants’ register, but they cannot tell us when we can have it.”
Mr Mahlangu wants to take legal action.
“We see that the ANC won the ward, although the issue with the incorrect ballot papers was not even resolved.”
“How can the IEC give Ward 4 to the ANC before the matter has been resolved? ” asked Mr Mahlangu.
He accused the IEC of being bias towards the ANC.
The IEC claim that after they realised that there was a mix-up of ballot papers at eMbalenhle Primary School voting station, the presiding officer consulted the local office and it was then agreed with the party agents at the voting station that the ballot box was to be sealed and quarantined for a decision by Local Political Party Liaison Committee.
“A LPPLC meeting was held to which all political parties and the independent candidates had been invited via telephone calls, WhatsApp message and emails.
“The affected independent candidate was specially called and invited. He accepted the invitation, but failed to attend three LPPLC meetings called to discuss the subject matter,” said Mr Thanduxolo Chembeni, Mpumalanga
Independent Electoral Commission senior outreach officer.
“The local PLC agreed to seek the advice of the provincial office and the matter was subsequently attended by the Provincial Political Party Liaison Committee, where a resolution was taken that the ballot box be opened and ballots for the PR Local (yellow) and PR District (green) be counted and the ward (grey/white) ballot not be counted so as not to disadvantage anyone.”
Mr Chembeni said the resolution was forwarded to the local PLC and was implemented as such.
“The candidate did not raise any objection when results were presented after counting and never lodged any formal objection with the IEC since the results were announced,” said Mr Chembeni.
