Challenges with voting registration worry me – Maimane

Johannesburg – The challenges arising from verifying addresses during voter registration for the local government elections worried DA leader Mmusi Maimane, he told journalists on Saturday.

While visiting some Tshwane voter registration stations, Maimane said there was no verification of his address when he registered.

He said the DA had urged the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to seek a declaratory on the matter.

“We have urged the IEC to go and seek a declaratory on the matter to ensure that we get the appropriate definitions of addresses and what it constitutes," he said.

Maimane said he predicted many questions would arise during the 2016 local elections, judging from the Tlokwe by-election judgment.

Impact of Tlokwe judgment

“As we saw in the Tlokwe judgement, it’s a concern when I look at some of the questions that will arise as a result of elections.

"But that is why there are party agents and that is why we have people who monitor to ensure there is no inducement and there is no busing in of people to make sure the results are free and fair," he said.

Accompanied by DA mayoral candidate in Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, Maimane greeted ANC and EFF members who had also erected stands at the IEC station in Uitsig Primary School.  

He jokingly told an EFF member that the party should behave and not act like tsotsis (thugs) during the local elections. 

On a charm offensive, Maimane then went to the ANC stand to take photo’s with some ANC members. Maimane then asked ANC members why President Jacob Zuma’s picture was not on their campaign posters. 

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.