Cape Town — South African celebrity chef, Fikile Zungu, has claimed that she was left humiliated after she was turned back and denied her right to vote at an embassy in Belgium.
Zungu has been living in Belgium since 2010, and has worked at the embassy ever since. She has a big social media following showing off her cooking and culinary skills.
She revealed that, in January, she took her daughter to the embassy to register to vote and made sure to check her own registration details were also in order, The Citizen reported.
She called a supervisor and he found out that she was registered to vote in South Africa, and not Belgium. She took to X and posted some videos detailing her experience.
“He found out I was registered to vote in South Africa. I cannot vote in Belgium, but I am registered. I am confused by this because previously I have voted here in Belgium, I have been in Belgium for 14 years. He told me he was sorry and there was nothing he could do, I could not vote.”
I was denied my right to vote at the Embassy of South Africa in Belgium @IECSouthAfrica @PublicProtector @DIRCO_ZA @tokoxasa @PresidencyZA pic.twitter.com/sf3tjcQNQJ
— #fikz (@Fikz_the_Cook) May 21, 2024
Zungu said her frustrations were compounded further when a white woman was allowed to vote without any issue and she questioned whether it had anything to do with her departure from the embassy three years ago.
It was so confusing to me, and so personal. I didn’t vote,” she said, getting emotional.
“I feel victimised again by the SA embassy. Why does this keep happening to me? Couldn’t they try something so that I can vote like that woman voted. My daughter was just waiting outside,” she added.
Zungu’s pleas were heard by the Department of International Relations and Cooperations (DIRCO), and department spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, said the matter has been reported to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). He also added that the SA embassy has nothing to do with the error, and IEC handles all electoral matters.
“I know she mentions the SA Embassy repeatedly here, but it’s the IEC (an independent body) that runs elections. DIRCO merely provided venues (embassies and consulates). The matter has been reported to IEC. They’ll investigate and take appropriate action. Sorry Zungu for the “nasty” experience.” he said.
Monyela said all missions, including in Brussels, “went smoothly”. He called Zungu’s experience “an isolated incident”.
I know she mentions the SA Embassy repeatedly here, but it’s @IECSouthAfrica (an independent body) that runs elections. DIRCO merely provided venues (Embassies & Consulates). The matter has been reported to @IECSouthAfrica. They’ll investigate & take appropriate action. Sorry… https://t.co/CVyBplF8Uw
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) May 21, 2024
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Picture: X/@Fikz_the_Cook
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
