The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has accused the IFP of buying votes during a crucial by-election in the Umhlathuze Local Municipality on Wednesday.
The ANC, which won the ward during the elections last year but lost the municipality to the IFP, said the party was setting up an operational centre inside the Electoral Commission of SA’s demarcated voting district in Mndlakala.
Thami Ntuli, the IFP provincial spokesperson disputed the allegations and urged the ANC to stop spreading lies.
He said they understood that this must be very difficult for the ANC to witness such a huge show of support for the IFP in a former ANC stronghold.
“However, the IFP is calling on the ANC not to be spoilsports but to allow the will of the people of Mandlankala Ward 12 to prevail. We are further calling on the ANC not to engage in unethical behaviour or to bring the credibility of the IEC and the elections into dispute,” said Ntuli.
The ANC claimed it reported several issues, including the vote-buying claims, to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) for urgent intervention.
By late Wednesday afternoon, IEC spokesperson Thabani Nqira said it was yet to receive a formal complaint.
Mafika Mndebele, the ANC provincial spokesperson was adamant that they caught the IFP red-handed in the Mcabango voting district “dishing out wads of cash to eligible voters to vote for their candidate”.
“A man believed to be a personal protector… was caught on video grabbing an elderly female citizen after giving her cash.
“He was livid when the elderly citizen, Gogo Mthembu, went to the side marquee of the ANC outside the voting station. The man manhandled the pensioner, demanding his undisclosed amount of money back.”
Ntuli rejected the claim, saying the ruling party had been battling after losing support in the area.
“We had door-to-door campaigns and really don’t feel pressure to buy votes. In the video they circulated, I do not see any IFP leader or volunteer involved. Even if the claim is that is a bodyguard of an official, not a bodyguard of an IFP leader, I don’t know how they involve us.
“The ANC has been making many allegations since they realised that error was there’s and now the IFP is taking over and enjoying support.”
Source: News24, IOL, The Witness, image from IOL: Itumeleng English
