Voter caught in Tlokwe tug-of-war

A voter was caught in a tug-of-war between the ANC and DA when each tried to claim him as their own during a by-election in Tlokwe on Wednesday.

   

The Democratic Alliance's Jabulani Makhunga, who recorded the altercation on his cellphone, said he would complain to the Independent Electoral Commission's presiding officer about the incident.

   

On the video, an African National Congress member is seen pulling the man to the party's table outside the Boikhotso Secondary School in Ikageng, the Ward Nine voting station.

   

Representatives from both parties tried to pull the man to go to their table to check his name against their lists.

   

He eventually went over to the ANC's table, had his name looked up on the list, and went into the school to vote.

   

Said Makhunga: "They are also campaigning outside the gate using  [former president Nelson] Mandela's name and it is wrong. Voters get inside confused and don't know who to vote for because they are being pushed and pulled."

   

The ANC rejected the claims and said the DA's officials were provoking their supporters. ANC member Esrom Seabe said the accusations were made purely because they were winning the ward.

   

"They are swearing at our members trying to get them to react. No member of the ANC has told anyone to vote for us," he said.

  

Police officers had to separate the two parties.

   

-Sapa