EFF cries foul over ’flying’ ballots at Table View

CAPE TOWN - Objections to the local government election may be made to the IECs national offices in terms of section 65 of the municipal electoral legislation, Western Cape elections head Michael Hendricks says.

This came as EFF spokesperson Andiswa Madikazi alleged some ballot papers were found on the floor in Table View.

Madikazi said they tried to call the IEC’s offices regarding the matter, but nothing happened.

“I got a receipt slip from my party agent and that receipt slip was mainly just notes from the presiding officer and it was written on a notebook.

“I then drove to Table View High to ask for a receipt slip from the presiding officer and she told me that they had no slips.

“While I was there to attend the receipt slip matter, I saw a ballot paper flying, and an IEC official was running after a ballot paper and when I checked on my left there were tons of papers on the floor and there was nothing in the boxes.

“I asked them why they told a party agent to leave before the papers were put in the box and sealed.

“The police officers were just sitting in the car and not attending to the matter.

“The ballot boxes seen on the street belong to Table View High high voting stations.

“The mess was uncalled for, and the IEC officials did not know what they were doing. We were busy calling the IEC’s offices but nothing happened, it was just a roller-coaster,” said Madikane.

Hendricks said anyone could object to the IEC’s national offices in terms of section 65 of municipal electoral legislation, which included any matter pertaining to results.

“I am sure there may still be those objections and there may be the recounting and further investigations.

“As long as we have candidates and independents we are willing to come out and put out and extend the elections, I think that would be a good thing for our democracy.

“There will be a lot of analysis done around the turn and I don't have the final turnout because our metro is not in, only once our metro is in, we will be able to tell what was the turnout in the province.

“We also have people who are choosing to use an alternative, whether it is a protest action, multimedia group alternative from the court cases, or even not participating in our democratic electoral process, and that is something we have to look at as all of us.

“After these elections I will be engaging with our local municipalities to see to what extent they can assist the IEC in putting up better temporary structures,” said Hendricks.

Cape Times