Question NW92 to the Minister of Home Affairs
25 February 2019 - NW92
Hoosen, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Home Affairs
(1) (a) At which voting stations were complaints lodged against the conduct or rulings of presiding officers during the 2016 local government elections and (b) what (i) were the details and (ii) was the outcome of each complaint; (2) what (a) number of investigations were opened into the conduct or rulings of presiding officers and (b)(i) were the details and (ii) was the outcome of each investigation?
Reply:
1. (a) Two hundred and five complaints and or objections were received during the 2016 local government elections.
(i) and (ii) The complaints and or objections raised varied matters related to the operations at voting stations. Following investigations by the Electoral Commission, hundred and seventy one complaints and or objections were dismissed for want of substance. A further twenty nine were withdrawn by the complainants /objectors. One objection was sustained by the Commission.
2. (a) The Electoral Commission investigated numerous instances of conduct related to presiding officers. The conduct of one hundred and twelve officers were found to have fallen short of the exacting standards required by the Electoral Commission. These officers have been flagged on the electoral staff system to ensure that they may not be deployed in the capacity of presiding officer in future elections.