EFF electoral officer statement ‘borders on hate speech’: SADTU

In a tweet posted on Monday, the EFF called on its members to report SADTU members who work for the IEC. 

"SADTU is ANC, and we must defend our electoral system from thugs," said the EFF in a tweet. 

SADTU spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said members of trade unions should avail themselves to serve as election officers to ensure a free and fair election.  

“The statements made by the EFF demonstrate an aggravated level of ignorance of the rights and responsibilities of South Africans in supporting constitutional democracy.

“The EFF appears unable to distinguish between a trade union and a political party.

“Members of trade unions, including SADTU, have a right in law to be appointed as election officers if they meet the requirements.”

Cembi said the EFF’s statement borders on hate speech.   

“The statements of the EFF directed at SADTU members and by extension members of trade unions who participate as election officers border on hate speech, unfair discrimination and an incitement to harm such persons.

“The statements are also calculated to frustrate the efforts of the IEC to conduct a free and fair election as has been the case since the dawn of democracy.”

Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral Commission’s Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said there is no policy on hiring SADTU members.

“The IEC has no policy to hire members of SADTU, no such policy exists in the IEC. What the IEC has done is elaborate and agreed a recruitment and selection criteria with political party’s. SADTU has been part of those discussions.

“All staff who will be working at the voting station this weekend have been taken to local party liaison committees so that if any party has a grievance against any person on those lists, they could raise an objection and if a meritorious objection is raised, those people are removed.” 

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