Be vigilant – ANC not above using dirty tricks‚ Buthelezi warns

30 July 2016 - 18:26 By TMG Digital

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi told party supporters on Saturday to be vigilant on August 3‚ charging that the ANC are “not above using dirty tricks to manipulate the electoral outcome”. Addressing a rally in Nkandla in Kwazulu-Natal ahead of Wednesday's local government elections ‚ he said it was a blow to the ruling party to lose the town‚ which is President Jacob Zuma’s hometown‚ to the IFP.“Losing their President’s hometown to the IFP chaffed at their pride and they set their sights on taking back power. The campaign for 2016 has thus been fierce‚ not only here‚ but across South Africa. Because the ruling party has never been weaker or more divided‚ and its prospects of electoral success have never been worse‚” Buthelezi said.Live results, cool maps, fierce battlegrounds: follow the local elections on our web app: http://bit.ly/2apwZKUThe IFP however was aware that a desperate animal fought the hardest‚ so it had not been complacent.Chris Hani foresaw Nkandla coming - Maimane“The IFP has been vigilant in every by-election‚ and we will be vigilant on August 3rd‚ because we know that our opponents are not above using dirty tricks to manipulate the electoral outcome‚” the IFP leader asserted.“I am not just slating the ANC for the sake of it‚” he added. “I am telling you what has happened in every election since 1994. There have consistently been incidents of electoral fraud‚ vote buying‚ abuse of state resources‚ brown envelope journalism‚ intimidation and violence. This campaign‚ in particular‚ has been characterised by violence within the ANC against their own councillors and councillor candidates.“So we need to be aware that this election is going to be tough. I urge you to be vigilant next Wednesday. When you go to your voting station‚ keep your eyes open for anything that seems amiss. If you see people voting who don’t live in your ward‚ report it. If you see posters being vandalised‚ tell our party agents. If you see people being intimidated‚ speak to the police.“Don’t keep silent if you know that something is wrong. We need to protect the integrity of this election and ensure that it is free and fair‚ because only then will your voice be heard and respected‚” Buthelezi stated...

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