The Chairperson of ActionSA in Limpopo, Victor Mothemela, says their party members who were present during a coin toss to determine the overall winner of Ward 5 at the Ba-Phalaborwa municipality were not properly briefed.
ActionSA and the ANC got equal number of votes and the toss was used to break the tie, and ANC won.
Mothemela says although they are unhappy, they will not pursue any steps to challenge the outcome.
“What surprises us is that we were not formally informed of the time when we were going to toss the coin, where it would take place or who was going to toss the coin. We were just told that our people, just our branch chairperson of Ward Five, were called to come and toss the coin, without even informing our councillor candidate. So, we are very much not happy. For now, we really don’t want to push it too much. We will leave it.”
However, the IEC provincial Electoral Officer in Limpopo, Nkaro Mateta says guidelines were followed during the process.
“We are guided by the Municipal Structures Act, Schedule 1, Item 8, which says that if such a case presents itself, the municipal electoral officer must call the two candidates, explain to them how the legislation applies and make them understand. After that, they sign to show that they understand. A coin was chosen, and they were given an opportunity to inspect that particular coin.”