Pongola IFP supporters threaten to approach electoral court

Aggrieved IFP supporters in Pongola have threatened to approach the Independent Electoral Court to seek an order to nullify the election of some ward councillors should the IFP fail to rectify its mistake.

The issue relates to a mix-up of the IFP ward councillor and PR councillor candidate list prior to last year’s elections. The residents tried to stop a community meeting called by Speaker Kwenzakufani Nxumalo in the Manyandeni area in ward 12.

‘We need justice. The IFP promised us this mistake would be rectified after the elections, but that has not been done,’ said one member who asked not to be named.

‘We are planning to approach the IEC to make known our concerns regarding this matter. If we are not happy with the outcome, we will approach the IEC court in an attempt to nullify the election and go for a re-run,’ he said.

Nxumalo confirmed there were groups of individuals who bused in people to aggravate community members.

‘These people were shouting that they do not know who their councillor was, but these councillors were voted for by them. They were on the ballot papers.

‘This creates unnecessary challenges as our councillors can’t perform their duties as expected.

‘We appeal to the community to isolate these people. We are forging ahead with our community meetings in all 15 wards to educate members of the public about the importance of electing ward committee members,’ he said.

IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said this matter is receiving the attention it deserves from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

‘The NEC is expected to finalise everything on this matter and the announcement will be made publicly.

‘The threat of some members planning to take the party to the IEC court is reckless, and those individuals will be acting outside the scope of the IFP.

‘We appeal to our members to exercise patience,’ he said.