IEC dismisses ANC and DA's claim of vote rigging in eThekwini by-election

JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission (IEC) has dismissed the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA)'s claims of voter rigging in an eThekwini by-election won by the uMkhotno weSizwe (MK) Party.

Earlier this month, the MK Party candidate Mandla Biyela edged out his DA competitor by 22 votes to win the hotly contested ward 110.

Following this, the DA and the ANC lodged official complaints with the IEC alleging irregularities with the voters' roll.

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However, at a media briefing on Wednesday, the IEC said it would substantiate the claims from the two parties.

In their complaint to the IEC, the DA and ANC claimed there was a large group of people who were allowed to register to vote in the by-election despite not residing in the ward.

The ANC further said there was a one-bedroom flat, which was the listed address of over 100 voters.

IEC’s deputy chief electoral officer, Masego Sheburi, says there were no objections to the roll of registered voters before the election.

Sheburi said the addresses of voters living in informal settlements were redacted.

“So that when those voters presented on by-election day to vote, they ought to have first presented their address and on confirmation, their address was located in their ward, they would be permitted to vote. That is permissible in terms of Section 47 of the Municipal Electoral Act.”

Sheburi said the IEC has declared eThekwini’s ward 110 by-election free and fair.