Ward 32 committee elections declared unfree, unfair
After a lengthy period of investigations, Speaker of Council Patricia Khumalo has found that the Ward 32 committee elections held on January 10 were not free and unfair.
That means the positions occupied by the 10 people who won in the elections are now declared vacant, and the ward needs to hold a by-election to fill the vacant positions in that constituency.
The speaker found that ineligible voters were allowed to take part in the January 10 elections.
Preliminary reports were that people were apparently transported in from other constituencies, pointing to seriously compromised ward committee elections.
Also Ward committee election rerun overturned
This came after an objection to the elections results was raised by ward councillor Marius de Vos, who argued that the elections had been improperly handled by the presiding officers.
He initially lodged an objection with the legislature regarding the results of ward 32 on Thursday, January 12, and requested a re-run of the elections in that ward.
The results followed an investigation by the legislature annulled due to the irregularities in the voting process.
Surprisingly, the local government subsequently overturned its earlier decision to hold a re-run of the election, which was due to be held on January 31.
Despite the claims of irregularities, the elections were again declared to be free – and fair.
According to de Vos, the legislature failed to explain as to how an election can be declared free and fair under such circumstances, when this publication requested reasons for overturning the decision, early this year.
However, the ward councillor has finally been justified in calling the election un-free and unfair.
De Vos took the complaint to the Speaker of Council, who through her investigation found that indeed a sizable number of people who took part in the meeting were not registered to vote in Ward 32.
This was then reason enough for the speaker to declare the elections unfair.
The speaker also pointed out that, according to Section 11.1.3 on election meetings, sub-section (f), “only voters who are registered on the wards portion of the voters roll may vote at a ward committee election meeting”.
De Vos said the by-election will be held on June 10.
“Residents are urged to come in their numbers to exercise their constitutional rights on that day. The metro has already opened the nomination process on May 22, and the closing date is June 2.”
Forms for the nominations can be obtained from the ward co-ordinator Derrick Jacobs’ office, located at the municipal building on Trichardts Road, Boksburg CBD.
To ensure that the elections are deemed to be free and fair, vetting of ward committee nominees will begin on June 5.
The 10 ward committee members to be elected will support the ward councillor on different portfolios, which include Women and Children, Disabled and the Aged, Youth, Faith-based organisations, Environmental development, Infrastructure and services, Economic development and city planning, Health and Social development and Sports Heritage Recreation Arts and Culture. -@FanieFLK
