The leader of the Independent Democrats Patricia de Lille, who is on the campaign trail in the Northern Cape, is angry with the ANC in Warrenton for switching the town's lights off half an hour before an ID election rally was due to start outside a shopping centre there.

The ID claimed that more than 800 supporters had come to hear De Lille speak at the rally, which was due to start at 7pm. The lights went out at 6.30pm.

"I am making an appeal to the ANC to tolerate and respect the right of the Independent Democrats to campaign freely," De Lille said on Thursday.

"This is not the first time they have used these tactics. In the 2006 Local Elections they did the same ? they switched the lights off when I visited two other Northern Cape towns, Britstown and Strydenburg."

De Lille says she has instructed the Haniff Hoosen, the ID's secretary- general, to lodge an official complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission on Friday.