Cape Town — The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has called for authorities to probe into the alleged forged signatures provided by the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party.
The MK Party has been plagued by allegations of fraud after former leader and senior official of the party, Lennox Ntsado, was accused of fraud claims. He claimed that the MK Party forged signatures to secure its registration for the 2024 elections, while also fraudulently obtaining names, identity numbers and cellphone numbers of job seekers in the Cape Metro Council, The Citizen reported.
In a statement, Ntsodo said that he and his team worked with MK party secretary-general in the Western Cape, Faizel Moosa, to compile the fradulent lists.
In response, IEC spokesperson Kate Bopela, noted the media enquiries and reports alleging the submitted fraudlent signatures in fulfillment of the candidate nomination requirements.
The IEC is calling for SAPS to undertake investigations into allegations that uMkhonto we Sizwe party submitted fraudulent signatures during the candidate nomination process. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo says the claims must be tested in court.https://t.co/YF0LruvKqr pic.twitter.com/jUfNgAIrVv
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) April 29, 2024
“The commission calls on crime investigation authorities to expedite the investigations to establish the verity of the allegations. An expeditious investigation is essential for the conduct of free and fair elections,” Bopela said.
“The commission confirms the signature portal of the candidate nomination system verified whether the identity numbers submitted were of registered citizens of the republic. In other words, this entailed establishing whether the person is a citizen, alive and registered on the voters’ roll,” Bapela added.
According to IOL, In a recent media briefing by the IEC, the deputy chief electoral officer Masego Sheburi admitted that the commission did not have a signature database and could not verify whether signatures on supporter lists belonged to actual voters.
This is what sparked concerns about the validity and legitimacy of the ballot measure in the election process. By law, political parties must submit signatures of members and supporters to register for elections and appear on the ballot.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
