Complaints of alleged vote rigging in Metsimaholo by-election
The Communist Party has lodged a complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) following Wednesday's by-election in the Metsimaholo area of the Free State.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) contested is first ever election since the formation of the tripartite alliance between the African National Congress (ANC), the SACP and worker's federation Cosatu.
The SACP says it's lodged a complaint with the IEC regarding what it calls 'multiple incidents of vote rigging'.
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The party's spokesperson Alex Mashilo says tthe complaints laid at the IEC involve allegations that the names of people that have already died, were apparently used as registered voters.
"We are looking forward to the completion of the counting and the announcements of the results and whether the by-election was free and fair. Based on the decisions that the IEC makes, that will decide what the next course of action will be," says Mashilo.
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Meanwhile the IEC's Itumeleng Liba in the Free State confirms that they have received a number of objections from political parties, but described it as "nothing out of the ordinary".
"We have followed all processes and we believe the outcome will be free and fair. We have consulted all political parties on their complaints which have been responded too," says Liba.
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Of the 59 voting stations, counting was completed in 35 voting stations by early Thursday morning. Counting continued In 24 voting stations.
Liba says all processes have been followed and the IEC believes the outcome of the by-election will be free and fair.
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