By-election candidate’s home attacked

WITH residents in Upington scheduled to visit the polls tomorrow, an attack on the home of one of the candidates in this week’s Ward 4 by-election has resulted in criminal charges being laid, while a formal complaint has also been lodged with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) amidst alleged threats of physical violence.

In a statement issued on Friday, the DA in the

Northern Cape confirmed that it was taking legal action against

ANC supporters who allegedly attacked the home of its candidate for the upcoming ballot in Ward 4, Andeline

Ghafoor.

“The incident happened only an hour after the DA refused to sign off on the voters roll due to an objection regarding the names of more than 824 voters which had not been corrected,” said DA provincial chairperson, Harold McGluwa.

“ANC supporters hurled bricks at Ghafoor’s house, using offensive language and threatening her and her family.”

The attack on the home resulted in a criminal charge of intimidation being laid, while the DA has also lodged a formal complaint with the IEC after allegedly experiencing further threats by ANC members.

“The ANC’s disruptive tactics and intimidation of our members and public representatives goes against the very spirit of free and fair elections. The ANC’s poor behaviour also points to an increasingly desperate ANC that is willing to cross the line to stay in power.”

McGluwa further called on the various political parties to work together on creating a conducive environment for voters to practice their democratic right to vote for their party of choice.

The spokesperson for the ANC in the Northern Cape, Naledi Gaetsewe, said that the party had not received any reports about the incident.

“We see these allegations by the DA as nothing but a tactic used to delay the inevitable,” she said. “Our members have practised high levels of discipline throughout all by-elections in the Province and this by-election is no exception.

“We are confident that we will win this ward and therefore have no reason to intimidate any other political party.”

Gaetsewe added that preparations for the by-election were going very well, with volunteers and party agents working tirelessly to ensure victory.

“Our volunteers have ensured that they once again get in contact with the voters in that community in Ward 4, who have expressed that their only hope lies in the ANC.”