IEC tent, ward 108, Mfuleni. Photo by Johnnie Isaac.
7 May 2014
An Independent Electoral Commission official working at the ward 108 voting tent in Mfuleni has been dismissed after disappearing for more than an hour without reporting.
Several party agents complained about the incident claiming that the individual has disappeared with the ID scanner.
A representative of the United Democratic Movement, Phathiswa Shumane, expressed concern to GroundUp, “We don’t know who this person was going to scan.” She also alleged that IEC officials were taking people through side entrances to cast their votes. Similar allegations were made by a representative of the Economic Freedom Fighters.
However, the IEC’s area Manager, Phumla Milisi, said that no people were given special favours. She said the dismissed official went to buy food. “But I dismissed him, to give the process credibility, and replaced him.” She also said that he misplaced the area map not the scanner.
Police were called in to escort the dismissed man because of fears that he would be attacked by angry residents.