Threats at voting station
Councillors open intimidation case after voters registration weekend
THE last day of voter registration did not run as smoothly as anticipated at Dumisani Makhaye Village on Sunday where it is claimed Councillors Louis Fourie and Andre de Lange were harassed by opposition party members.
‘I had been at the voting station which was supposed to close at 5pm. It was past the prescribed closing time and yet people still streamed in to register,’ said De Lange.
‘Councillor Fourie arrived at the station to do an inspection while I had been querying from officials as to why the station had not closed,’ he said.
‘Apparently a sms had been sent out to all voting districts informing them that registration would close later, but no time had been given,’ he said.
Councillor Fourie, who had informed the SAPS and the IEC management about the situation, followed instructions and marked off the end of the queue.
‘I had spoken to the IEC and they instructed me to stand behind the last person in the queue to ensure no latecomers would be registered,’ said Fourie.
‘I stood there with Councillor de Lange and one of our activists to mark the cut-off point,’
‘A few minutes later three men in ANC T-shirts approached us and asked in isiZulu what was going on. I politely informed them that the IEC Regional office asked me to ensure the cut-off line is established,’ said Fourie.
‘One of the three men then grabbed Councillor De Lange by the arm, while another man told me that white people had nothing to do there since it was ANC territory and we best leave before we were removed at gunpoint.’
‘I told Cllr de Lange that we should not get into a conflict situation and rather leave. While walking to our vehicles one of the men shouted from behind us in isiZulu saying ‘Come back so we can teach you a lesson’,’ said Fourie.
A case of crimen injuria and intimidation has been opened at the Empangeni SAPS and the matter is currently under investigation.
‘The men who harassed us are familiar to us. They have previously threatened myself and other members and caused havoc at a Ward meeting in Dumisani Makhaya last year,’ said De Lange.
According to the uMhlathuze IEC electoral project coordinator, a meeting will be held with the district municipality to discuss the matter and an investigation is underway.
