Preliminary results for Ward 61 indicate that ANC Ward candidate Naeem Patel, has won the seat.
While the results of only four voting stations were released (subject to IEC verification) at the time of going to press, indications are that the ANC as a political party (on the PR ballot) also received the highest number of votes in the Ward.
Preliminary results also indicate that the second and third position is between the DA and ActionSA, while the fourth position.
Patel’s win is seen by many as a result of the support the ANC received in general from Muslim religious leaders who announced that the ANC should be supported for their stance against Israel at the ICJ and for also allowing freedom of religion. Patel took the matter further by insisting that any supporters of Palestine who voted for the likes of the DA, ActionSA, IFP or PA, who Patel regards as friends of Israel, were hypocrites.
It is now to be seen whether the ANC in turn, will give their votes received from Ward 61, to the likes of the DA, ActionSA or IFP through a coalition agreement and whether Patel will step down from the ANC as they in turn will be regarded as hypocrites by many who voted for them.
It is believed that Patel & the ANC’s close alliance with the large Pakistani community has also assisted in them receiving a large number of votes.
Unfortunately, the seemingly peaceful day, yesterday (Nov 4), saw some tempers rising between supporters of the ANC on the one side and the DA and MK Parties on the other side.
A resident who was at the Laudium Civic Centre to cast his vote, told the Laudium Sun, “As I was entering the front gate of the Civic Centre, I was approached by an ANC supporter who appeared from the ANC tent which was right next to the entrance. But, while the person was trying to convince me to vote for the ANC and their candidate, I heard some shouting and saw people running out of the ANC tent going towards the nearby front gate.
I later heard the DA was complaining about a whole lot of Pakistanis who seemingly came from outside the area to vote. What was apparently disturbing to the DA and other political parties, was that the Pakistanis apparently had new green book ID’s despite these being made redundant. There were accusations flying of voter fraud and even threats of legal action to be taken against the ANC.
Some of the DA members also accused the ANC members of wearing ANC T-shirts while assisting the IEC with special votes. I also heard complaints of a certain AB Ramjee, who is known to be a supporter of Patel, seen at the ANC tent, buying KFC for the IEC officials, which some saw as attempted bribery.”
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Ward 61 on Election Day… ANC in KFC for IEC leads to ‘we see u’
Voters in Ward 61 said that they were pleasantly surprised to find that voting stations in Laudium, Erasmia, Itireleng and Geradsville were relatively quiet on Election Day (yesterday – Nov 4), compared to previous elections.
The IEC is yet to announce what the voter turnout was compared to previous years.
The Laudium Sun understands that there were some skirmishes between political parties, especially at the Laudium Civic Centre, where allegations were made against the ANC for registering hundreds of Pakistani nationals in Ward 61, who live outside Tshwane, including in places such as Brits.
Allegations were also made that many of the Pakistanis were in possession of newly issued green ID books, despite these books being discontinued. Tempers also flared at the Civic Centre when it was alleged that a supporter of the ANC, a certain AB Ramjee, bought KFC meals for IEC officials, with some members of opposition political parties claiming that it was unethical for the IEC to recieve meals from any political party. It is believed legal action is now being contemplated.
Below are 4 of the Voting Station results (subject to IEC certification) that the Laudium Sun received prior to going to print at 4am (Thursday, Nov 5):
