Durban — The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has accused the IFP of desperation ahead of a by-election in the Umhlathuze Local Municipality’s Ward 12.
The by-election is a result of ANC councillor Thembelani Nsele’s resignation on June 29.
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 Mandlakala.
IFP provincial spokesperson Thami Ntuli disputed the allegations and urged the ANC to stop spreading lies.
He said they understood that it must be 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 Madlankala 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 disrepute,” said Ntuli.
The ANC’s provincial spokesperson, Mafika Mndebele, said the party’s strength in the Musa Dladla region and interest shown by local communities had generated widespread panic and induced thuggerism within the IFP in the region.
“The resistance by the IFP representatives to move out of the venue, after being caught red-handed, is not only an act of criminality but thuggerism and a desperate attempt to prevent the ANC from winning Ward 12 and ultimately taking over Umhlathuze Local Municipality,” said Mndebele.
He said they were exploring the possibility of lodging a complaint with the IEC to look into this infringement of the Code.
“Where possible, the ANC will ensure that the IEC imposes a heavy sanction that will send a strong message to those who seek to undermine our democracy,” he said.
But Ntuli hit back, saying an ANC member was seen bullying an IEC official in a video and forced him to open a storeroom at Mandlakala hall. He said the storeroom contained unused materials, including old IFP posters, which were produced in 2021.
“It is a complete fabrication that the storeroom was being used as a workstation: the room was locked, and there was no one inside.
“In the video currently circulating, an IEC official (presiding officer) can be heard confirming that no activity was taking place in the storeroom hidden at the back of the hall.
“The official said they did not even realise the room was there, as it was not interfering with the processes inside the voting station,” Ntuli said.
Daily News