IEC under scrutiny over Ward 82 by-election complaints

SEVERAL political parties that contested last week's by-elections in Ward 82 in the City of Johannesburg have called for improved systems from the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) ahead of the 2026 local government polls.

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) won the hotly-contested ward, which includes areas such as Claremont, Brixton, New-lands, Westbury, and Newclare, after it became vacant following the death of a DA councillor in January.

PA candidate Beverley Smouse won by 41.71%, while the African Christian Democratic Party managed just below 21%, the DA obtained 12.76% and the ANC 12.6%.

Several political parties including Al Jama-ah, Amalgamated Rainbow Move-ment, DA, EFF, National Coloured Con-gress, Indigenous Democratic Revolution, and the IFP initially raised objections to the IEC's alleged conduct.

Among the complaints is that there were voters who used addresses of a police station and a factory, dilapidated houses with no occupants, and in some cases, addresses were duplicated, with about 70 voters registered in a three-roomed house.