UDM leader Bantu Holomisa yesterday warned party agents to be extra vigilant in voting stations during Wednesday’s municipal elections.
He cautioned that if they looked away for even a few seconds, there might be vote rigging by ANC “thieves” acting as Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) staff members.
Holomisa was addressing thousands of UDM supporters at the party’s Siyanqoba rally at the Rotary Stadium in Ngangelizwe Township in Mthatha.
In typical style, he started off his 31-minute address with a ringing statement: “Down with thieves, down!”
He drummed up support for his party, saying voters should place their faith in the opposition party so that it could continue where it left off when it governed the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality before.
Holomisa told supporters due to act as party agents on Wednesday to take turns when they were tired and to “never” leave officials alone in voting stations.
“Those of you who will be party agents, please do not be late at voting stations or else the damage might done by the time you get there. When you are inside voting stations, be vigilant and do not let them tell you to go and stand in corners while IEC officials you know are members of the ANC, are left alone.
“Make sure you take note of the voters’ roll and see if voters put the ink on it or not, or else that person might vote even five times a day,” he said.
Alleged vote-rigging is nothing new in every election as parties always claim to receive reports of ink coming off easily.
But the electoral commission has regularly dismissed these complaints as untrue.
Holomisa said his party was making inroads throughout the province and was hopeful they would have a few seats in Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City Metro council.
Should the UDM regain power in KSD, the party would reintroduce a maintenance unit dedicated to ensuring roads and buildings were always maintained, he vowed.
This, along with enforcing bylaws, would restore Mthatha to its former glory.
Holomisa said that while he was on the campaign trail, residents had complained about not having access to clean running water, unemployment, poor RDP houses, high levels of crime, corruption and the education crisis.
He laid into President Jacob Zuma, calling him a “two-headed thief” who was milking the country dry through his alleged corruption to pay for his wives.
“We are still saying even today, Mr Zuma, that we will not be led by you being a thief,” he said to applause.
“That two-headed man and his friends are stealing your money. We will be on his case until 2019.” — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
Holomisa warns against ANC ‘thieves’ at the polls
He cautioned that if they looked away for even a few seconds, there might be vote rigging by ANC “thieves” acting as Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) staff members.
Holomisa was addressing thousands of UDM supporters at the party’s Siyanqoba rally at the Rotary Stadium in Ngangelizwe Township in Mthatha.
In typical style, he started off his 31-minute address with a ringing statement: “Down with thieves, down!”
He drummed up support for his party, saying voters should place their faith in the opposition party so that it could continue where it left off when it governed the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality before.
Holomisa told supporters due to act as party agents on Wednesday to take turns when they were tired and to “never” leave officials alone in voting stations.
“Those of you who will be party agents, please do not be late at voting stations or else the damage might done by the time you get there. When you are inside voting stations, be vigilant and do not let them tell you to go and stand in corners while IEC officials you know are members of the ANC, are left alone.
“Make sure you take note of the voters’ roll and see if voters put the ink on it or not, or else that person might vote even five times a day,” he said.
Alleged vote-rigging is nothing new in every election as parties always claim to receive reports of ink coming off easily.
But the electoral commission has regularly dismissed these complaints as untrue.
Holomisa said his party was making inroads throughout the province and was hopeful they would have a few seats in Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City Metro council.
Should the UDM regain power in KSD, the party would reintroduce a maintenance unit dedicated to ensuring roads and buildings were always maintained, he vowed.
This, along with enforcing bylaws, would restore Mthatha to its former glory.
Holomisa said that while he was on the campaign trail, residents had complained about not having access to clean running water, unemployment, poor RDP houses, high levels of crime, corruption and the education crisis.
He laid into President Jacob Zuma, calling him a “two-headed thief” who was milking the country dry through his alleged corruption to pay for his wives.
“We are still saying even today, Mr Zuma, that we will not be led by you being a thief,” he said to applause.
“That two-headed man and his friends are stealing your money. We will be on his case until 2019.” — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos