EFF unhappy with IEC’s ‘lack of readiness’
Updated | By Anastasi Mokgobu
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it remains concerned about what it believes to be a lack of readiness from the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) to hold local government elections.
The IEC experienced several issues during its only voter registration weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, its online registration system had to shut down for few hours due to technical glitches.
On the second day, nine registration stations failed to open.
The party says technical difficulties are an indication that the commission does not have the capacity to run free and fair elections.
“The EFF’s ability to conduct a lawful, peaceful and impactful campaign under difficult circumstances proves that as an organisation we are not only ready to govern but prepared to be custodians of South Africa’s democracy and encouraging people to vote irrespective of whether we will be in power or not,” the party said in a statement.
“We however highlight that we are not pleased by the lack of readiness of the Independent Electoral Commission, which failed on numerous accessions, which may prove harmful to full participation by the people in elections and participatory democracy.
“The persistent failure of the IEC’s website, which led to difficulty with online registration and details of prospective voters being captured on notepads, is a sign that the IEC lacks the necessary capacity and agility to run a free, fair, transparent and efficient elections,” it said in a statement.
The party also raised concerns about the what it calls the ANC’s lack of tolerance.
This comes after the governing party’s supporters prevented EFF leader Julius Malema from accessing a voting station in KwaDambuza in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The ruling party’s intolerance and degeneration in KwaZulu-Natal is an indication that the inevitable day when the ANC loses political power, they will subject the country to violence and undermine electoral outcomes, because they are under the impression that they have a God-given right to govern South Africa.”
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