Formal objections have been submitted to the electoral tribunal over the voting process in Sunday’s elections of traditional councils in KwaZulu-Natal.
|||Durban - Formal objections have been submitted to the electoral tribunal over the voting process in Sunday’s elections of traditional councils in KwaZulu-Natal, an official said.
“I can confirm that we have received objections, mainly from people who lost the elections,” provincial co-operative governance department spokesman Lennox Mabaso said on Wednesday.
People who lodged objections complained that the elections had not been free and fair at their voting stations. Members of the public had until March 26 to lodge objections.
Mabaso said the results of the elections had been posted at all voting stations.
Traditional council elections are part of the government's attempts to make traditional governance more democratic.
Under the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, 60 percent of council members are appointed by a senior traditional leader. The rest must be democratically elected by the public.
Mabaso said some problems were experienced during the elections.
“Some people complained that they walked long distances to traditional authorities’ offices where elections were held. We will make sure that we address that during our next elections.”
Some people also complained that ballot papers did not have pictures of candidates' faces. - Sapa