COMMENT- Much has been written the past few weeks from mismanagement to tender irregularities at the IEC- INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION. Whenever there is an election in a neighbouring country, social media are abuzz with talk of vote rigging,no go areas and biased election presiding officers. Well- today our very own already blemished IEC made a decision that is totally unprecented when we had Brigalia BAm and judge Kriegler heading it. This decision involves the ruling ANC and the Tlokwe by-elections. The ANC suspended 14 of their councillors who rebelled against an alleged corrupt ANC mayor. These suspension resulted in a DA takeover and election of a DA mayor. The IEC was supposed to call for by-election, and the ANC, realising their error of judgement, decided to reverse the suspensions. However, the suspended members decided to reject the olive branch and stand as independent candidates. WELL,. TODAY THE IEC REJECTED THE NOMINATIONS OF SIX OF THESE INDEPENDENTS CANDIDATES, ON THE FLIMSIEST OF PRETEXES, CLAIMING INCORRECT INFO ON NOMINATION FORMS. THESE ARE THE SAME COUNCILLORS WHO COMPLETED THE SAME FORMS, AND WAS ELECTED IN THE 2011 local elections. This means the new ANC candidates can go through virtually unopposed, as other parties are hardly a factor. My reason for suspicion is that less than a week ago the public protector revealed that IEC chief , Pansi Thakula was in irregular relation with a high-ranking ANC menber.The IEC decision on TLOKWE today should make all opposition parties beware, as it was a decision that was clearly biased in favour of the ANC, a party who has leaders who do business and have an unusual relationship.Any future decision by the current IEC should be under heavy scrutiny by the opposition- otherwise, free and fair elections in this country will only be a distant dream.Today its TLOKWE- a municipality, Tomorrow it could be a province. THE IEC SHOULD BE CALLED TO ORDER ASAP.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 17:12:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015