Police are looking into a case of apparent election fraud at a voting station in North West after a voter discovered that a political party on a ballot sheet had already been marked.
The municipal electoral officer for Madibeng, Dikgape Makobe,
said senior Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials had
also been deployed to the Skeerpoort station to investigate the
allegations.
According to police spokesman Superintendent Junior Metsi, the
voter complained after discovering the already-marked ballot sheet.
She would not accept the IEC officials' explanation that they
accidentally gave another voter three ballots and on realising it took one back.
"The DA's leader in North West has demanded that the IEC
officials at Skeerport immediately be removed and replaced,"
Democratic Alliance chairman for Madibeng Leon Basson said.
In another incident, an IEC official was removed from the
Lethlabile voting station after it was discovered she was
encouraging voters to vote for a certain political party, according
to Makobe.
"No other incidents in this municipal area were reported and
voting is moving along smoothly," said Madibeng IEC area manager
Sonnyboy Thwala.
Queues at the various polling stations in Brits and
Hartebeesport were moving at a steady pace and voters, in general,
were optimistic and cheery.
"I have been voting for change since 1971," said Piet du
Plessis, 57, from De Wildt.
"Despite being burgled and robbed 27 times and losing 12
acquaintances to violent crimes since 1994 and the start of
democracy, I still vaguely believe in a better South Africa.
"May the least evil of the devils win."
Hendrik Mogale, 35, from Lethlabile, also felt change was
inevitable.
"It is time to get rid of corruption on all levels and, in
particular, in our local Madibeng municipality," he said.
"Although the older generation still tend to support the ANC, I
have discovered, to my surprise, that the youth are leaning toward
the DA. It seems change is on it's way."