Election riggers face jail

THOSE implicated in the alleged manipulation of voting processes during the recent elections in Folweni and Dundee could face up to five years in prison, says the Electoral Commision of South Africa.

“The matter is before the police and we cannot comment fully as we might be called as witnesses,” said provincial commissioner Mawethu Mosery.

The police said they were still investigating their case in Folweni and no arrest had been made.

Several people employed by the commission in the Red Cross Hall at Folweni, south of Durban, and the Latima Community Hall at Dundee were dismissed during the special vote on Monday and Tuesday last week following irregularities in how they handled the special voting process.

In the run-up to the local government elections, Folweni was one of the hotly contested areas and ravaged by ANC internal factions.

Communities that were angry about the choice of candidate for a councillor position went on a rampage, and blockaded the township with daily protest.

“What happened involved alleged electoral manipulation. It is difficult to be specific,” said Mosery.

They had received a report from their team supervising the voting station and they had also received complaints from the community about how the special votes were administered.

He said the rest of the voting process was, however, completed smoothly without any further issues raised.

In the 2011 local government elections, one person was sentenced to five years for electoral fraud.

She had tried to stuff a ballot box with votes.

“She served about 18 months of her sentence,” said Mosery.

Meanwhile, he said, he was yet to be briefed on the demands by opposition parties to nullify the results for Ward 3 in Inanda.