Cape Town – EFF leader Julius Malema has rejected claims of election rigging in South Africa, saying that the country has “solid” election structures.
Acording to The Citizen, last month, former ANC leaders Jacob Zuma and Ace Magashule alleged election rigging during their campaigns, with Magashule asserting that his party would emerge victorious.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa also accused the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of bias.
Holomisa posted a photo on Twitter last week showing two vehicles adorned with signage that read “Sadtu votes ANC.”
He then wrote: “The IEC is using this union to run this country’s elections, an affiliate of Cosatu, which is in alliance with the ANC. This time in our meeting of the opposition parties on 26/02/24, we must take a resolution on this rigging of SA elections.”
The IEC uses this Union to run this country’s elections, an affiliate of Cosatu which is in alliance with the ANC.This time in our meeting of the opposition parties on 26/2/24, we must take a resolution on this rigging of SA elections. pic.twitter.com/wJcro7EOUm
— Bantu Holomisa (@BantuHolomisa) February 14, 2024
However, Malema urged politicians to avoid sowing panic and emphasised the credibility of the election process.
“The reality is no election is going to be rigged and if you feel defeated before even putting up a fight then give up. We have solid election structures including highly trained party agents.
The reality is no election is going to be rigged and if you feel defeated before even putting up a fight then give up. We have solid election structures including highly trained party agents.
We are marking SADTU office bearers at all levels and shop stewards not to be hired as…
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) February 25, 2024
“We are marking SADTU office bearers at all levels and shop stewards not to be hired as IEC staff. We are recruiting professionals mostly targeting the retired ones to volunteer as our party agents because they won’t be easily intimidated,” Malema said.
He added: “The rhetoric of predetermined outcomes is extremely dangerous, especially during highly contested elections like the one we are confronted with now.
“We heard before that people have intelligent information about this or that without producing anything material even at a point where we thought something would give nothing came forward. Not now, we have listened to this nonsensical story of “information came” for far too long and it won’t work this time around.”
The role of opposition parties is to complement each other at the voting stations. I can’t put it better than what the president of the ATM said, we must look after each other’s vote. If anything goes wrong we will have allowed it, the counting part is the most critical point of…
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) February 25, 2024
Malema encouraged political parties to monitor voting stations and advocated for the recruitment of retired professionals as party agents.
“The role of opposition parties is to complement each other at the voting stations. I can’t put it better than what the president of the ATM said, we must look after each other’s vote. If anything goes wrong we will have allowed it, the counting part is the most critical point of every election. Thobela.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa and the IEC have previously dismissed claims of election rigging, asserting the transparency and effectiveness of the electoral system.
The country’s elections are scheduled for May 29, 2024.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
