The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) on Saturday accused the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of deliberately removing its members from the voters’ roll, mainly in its strongholds.
IFP national chairperson Zanele Magwaza said she had received numerous calls from party members who complained that their names did not appear on the voters’ roll, despite having voted since 1994.
”We believe that there are shenanigans at the IEC.”
”We know that there are African National Congress [ANC] elements at the IEC, therefore we find it hard to believe why people who have been voting since 1994 can be removed from the voters’ roll.”
She encouraged IFP supporters to go and check whether their names had not been removed.
IEC chief electoral officer in KwaZulu-Natal Mawethu Mosery dismissed the claim, saying there was no way IFP supporters would be singled out and removed from the roll.
”I challenge the IFP to bring all the people they are talking about to me. If it is true, we will investigate the reasons why they were removed.”
The last round of voter registration was going smoothly in the province, said Mosery.
Apology
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal minister of safety Bheki Cele on Saturday demanded a public apology from IFP leader Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi following the statement he made that Cele was seen carrying a firearm in Nongoma.
The IFP on Monday accused Cele of having interfered in the duties of the police by demanding them to fire tear gas at IFP supporters during clashes between IFP and ANC supporters in Nongoma.
The accusations were made during a press briefing held in Durban on Monday.
Cele on Friday said he had written a letter to the IFP demanding an apology.
”I want them to produce evidence that I was carrying a gun and if they fail, I want them to call another press briefing and apologise. If they don’t, we will meet in court. I am really serious about this.”
Cele said instead of condemning the acts of their members, which saw ANC members severely attacked, IFP leaders had decided to invent lies. — Sapa