The ward committee election was previously held in Ward 32, on January 10.
The election outcome was, however, annulled due to apparent irregularities in the voting process, and a date for a rerun was arranged.
Residents braced themselves for the rerun and went to the civic centre on January 31, only to find out that the decision to rerun the election had been overturned at the 11th hour by the metro.
According to the Public Participation Unit’s Sphelele Nxele, a warranted and vigilant assessment was done into the irregularities and deemed their outcomes immaterial to the final voting results.
For that reason, the elected ward committee stands.
“One candidate, who will be unnamed at this stage, has been disqualified. Documentation officiating her disqualification is being processed. The vacant position she leaves will be filled at a later stage.
“According to a completed assessment of the events that transpired, the elections were deemed free and fair,” said Nxele.
Nxele further stated that she now understands that the ward councillor of Ward 32, Marius de Vos, has been in touch with the Speaker of Council to voice his dissatisfaction with the process.
“This has thus far not affected any of the presented findings and the Speaker will enquire further into the matter and make pronouncements if need be.
“Our Public Participation Unit will assist the ward councillor to set up or strengthen Street and Block committees in all areas of the ward for the purposes of legitimate information flow to all resident in the ward, in manner that allows smooth working relations of the ward councillor, the ward committee, and the entire community of Ward 32,” added Nxele.
The Advertiser is in possession of the objection response, which indicates that the municipality upheld some of de Vos’ claim that the law was contravened in some way, including the participation of people who are not registered to vote in Ward 32.
The objection response sent to the ward councillor via email indicated that the metro acknowledged that it had proven that there are illegible people, who were allowed to take part in the Ward 32 election meeting. They are not registered to vote in Ward 32.
So far no one has explained to the Advertiser why those people were allowed to take part in the election, and what actions will be taken against the presiding officers who apparently failed to perform their duties. -@FanieFLK
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