The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) on Thursday dismissed allegations of vote rigging during the union’s elections earlier this month.
”Counting of ballots by Eisa [Electoral Institute of South Africa] officials commenced at midday on September 2, with observers present at all times.
”The ballot was declared free and fair by Eisa and the observers,” said Sadtu’s National Working Committee (NWC) president Willie Madisha.
He said allegations about vote rigging surfaced in a newspaper report last week. It suggested that the ballot boxes had been tampered with while being moved from the congress venue to a police station the night before the count.
”This supposedly provided an opportunity for vote tampering, but these concerns have been put to rest by Eisa, which conducted the elections.”
Madisha said Eisa had decided that the ballot boxes should be stored at the Midrand police station overnight on September 1.
The boxes were sealed in the presence of observers.
”Each observer signed the tape sealing the boxes. The seals were inspected by Eisa and the observers before being reopened the next day.”
Madisha added that the boxes were delivered to the police station and collected in the presence of Eisa officials and observers.
He said allegations of vote rigging surfaced only after the results were declared.
”Individuals then ran to the press to object to the election process and to make allegations against the general secretary [Thulas Nxesi].”
”The NWC urges these individuals to accept the outcome of the democratic process and to join with the majority of Sadtu members in building a strong and united union,” said Madisha.
Sadtu’s NWC also rejected allegations that Nxesi abused his position by using the union’s resources to fund his father’s funeral.
He said this allegation surfaced a year ago.
”At a national meeting of the union, individuals were invited to come forward with proof, but to date no evidence has been produced to support it.”
Madisha said smear campaigns against prominent trade unionists surfaced in the media at time of elections only.
These vain attempts to sway the outcome of union elections were ”aided and abetted by faceless anonymous sources who tend to surface around the time of congresses”, Madisha said. — Sapa