DURBAN - Financial constraints have forced the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council (KZNCC) to send a lower-than-desired number of elections observers and mediators across the province for this year’s local government elections.
For the November 1 polls, the KZNCC will send less than 500 personnel to watch over the elections in all corners of the province.
KZNCC Ecumenical relations manager Thataetsile Semeno said their elections team will include:
–*330 elections observers
– 44 violence monitors
– 44 mediation and co-operation officers
The deployment of the team, Semeno explained, was part of their civic duty which they had exercised in all past elections over the years.
“In the past we have always taken a keen interest in the elections, because we want to see for ourselves through the observers whether they were free and fair, and this election is no exception, and also because we believe in the importance for people to make their voices heard on who they want as their leaders” said Semeno.
He acknowledged that this year’s elections had become a tougher assignment as they did not have as many observers as they wanted, owing to financial constraints.
He added they had identified certain areas they regarded as violence hot spots.
“We are obviously concerned about eThekwini and uMgungundlovu owing to incidents of violence that have been reported in those areas in recent days and we would have loved to have a greater presence in them,” Semeno added.
In Pietermaritzburg nearly two weeks ago ( October 17), the EFF Msunduzi Municipality councillor candidate Thulani Shangase was killed in Herwood by unknown attackers. His death came two days after an ANC councillor candidate in eThekwini, Siyabonga Mkhize was shot and killed with another person accompanying him. The two incidents raised speculation that there was a political motive behind the killings, heightened fears and prompted calls for police to beef security.
Areas such as hostels, Phoenix, Mtubatuba, Estcourt, Howick and Newcastle have been identified as hot spots and it is expected they will see a heavy presence of the police and the army during the elections. The KZNCC appealed for everyone to exercise restraint during and after the elections.
“Our message is that people should remain calm and that everything possible should be done to ensure safety and peace during the elections,” Semeno said.
This year’s election will be the first one in the country’s history to be held on Monday, as all other elections have been held on Wednesday since 1994 and it will have the highest number of political parties contesting at 325. According to the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) there are 26 228 975 registered voters, with 55.17% women and 44.83% men.
In different parts of KZN voters will have three ballots papers to vote for their local or ward councillor, followed by a proportional representation councillor and district councillor.
EThekwini, which is KZN’s only metro, will be using only two ballot papers, one for a councillor and the other for a political party.
Voters are also encouraged to visit the IEC’s website(www.elections.org.za) in order to familiarise themselves with the ballot papers they will be using in Monday’s election.
THE MERCURY