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24 May, 2018
UDM’s Thandi Nontenja on Mtubatuba by-elections: voter registration ahead of by-elections is a recipe for disaster as the results proved
Mr Sy Mamabolo Chief Electoral Officer Independent Electoral Commission Private Bag X112 Centurion, 0046 Dear Mr Mamabolo MTUBATUBA BY-ELECTIONS: VOTER REGISTRATION AHEAD OF BY-ELECTIONS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER AS THE RESULTS PROVED The United Democratic Movement (UDM) hopes that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is happy and it appreciates the current state of affairs in the Mtubatuba Municipality following our continuous warnings against the registration of voters when there are by-elections. We warned that such registration might 1) have a negative impact, that 2) the results might not be accurate and that 3) there might be loopholes for the manipulation of the voters’ roll. The UDM has, for time immemorial, warned at the National Party Liaison Committee meetings that this practice must be stopped. Unfortunately, the IEC is hellbent in continuing on doing this. What happened in Mkhanyakude District during the by-elections in Ward 4 in the Mtubatuba Municipality, where it was found that some voters who are not residents in that particular ward – and were residents of adjacent wards – who voted. This could have been prevented if the IEC had listened to the UDM’s counsel. The UDM hopes that the IEC will now take our position on this matter seriously. The IEC is expected to be responsive and listen to the voice of political parties as they are important role players in the electoral process. The results in the by-elections of Ward 4 have been compromised and it cannot be credible. Yours in nation building Mrs Thandi Nontenja UDM Representative on the National Party Liaison Committee thandi@udm.org.za
