Vryheid by-election to go ahead

THE by-election in Abaqulusi’s (Vryheid) ward 22 will continue as planned tomorrow and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it has found no evidence of irregularities in the voter registration process.

The IEC was responding after former ward councillor André Lotter challenged the legality of the process leading up to the by-election.

Lotter claimed there had been wide-scale electoral fraud as “hundreds” of people had been bused in from outside the ward, that led to a massive increase in the number of people registered to vote in that ward.

Provincial electoral officer Mawethu Mosery said about 6 000 people were registered to vote in tomorrow’s by-election, while in 2011 about 3 800 voters were registered.

“There are some people who have legitimately relocated to this ward recently because of a new housing development there, and therefore this could explain this increase,” he said.

Mosery said the IEC had checked the voters’ roll and was satisfied that everyone on the list had the correct address for that ward.

He said there were time frames within which Lotter should have lodged his complaint.

Lotter said he had lodged an application with the electoral court to have the election postponed for 90 days.

“I have received an opposing affidavit from the IEC and I am busy drafting a responding affidavit, which I will present in court tomorrow (today).”

The ward became vacant earlier this year following the resignation of Lotter, who was then an ANC councillor.

At the weekend ANC provincial chairman Senzo Mchunu addressed a campaign rally, while the IFP also held a rally, addressed by its president, Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Parties contesting the byelection include the ANC, IFP, ACDP and the NFP.

Formerly an IFP stronghold, the municipality is now cogoverned by an ANC and NFP coalition.