The United Democratic Movement urged its supporters on Friday to remain ”calm and patient” after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) published incorrect versions of the party’s candidates lists.
Spokesperson Malizole Diko said the order of candidates on all of the party’s 19 lists was ”completely wrong”.
”Except for the name of the leader [Bantu Holomisa] in number one on the national list, all the rest is wrong.”
Apart from its list of candidates for the national government, the party also submitted two lists from each of the country’s nine provinces — one dealing with nominations from provincial to national level, the other with candidates for the provincial government.
Candidates were listed in order of seniority — with seats being awarded from the top down depending on the number of seats the party won in the April 14 election.
Diko said the IEC had erroneously published the party’s provisional lists, which were later updated.
”There will be a lot of confusion among our members, as the lists that they have are not the same as the ones published by the IEC today [Friday],” he said.
”We just want to assure all our members and supporters that the matter is being addressed by us and the IEC.”
The UDM ascribed the error to the IEC’s heavy workload.
IEC official Michael Hendrickse admitted an error had crept in. The UDM’s candidates lists had been withdrawn from the commission’s website.
”We are working at recapturing the revised lists, and should be able to make them available within the next hour or two,” he said at 1.30pm on Friday.
He stressed this would not in any way affect the validity of the lists.
Hendrickse said there had been an ”administrative miscommunication” between the IEC and the UDM.
The revised lists were apparently attached to the back of other documents submitted by the UDM, and were never picked up by staff.
There had been no problems with the lists of other parties, Hendrickse said.
The commission made available all parties’ candidates lists on Friday for public inspection. Objections to candidates had to reach the IEC by 5pm on Monday. — Sapa
Special Report: Elections 2004