Eskom CEO André de Ruyter says it’s time voters use their power at ballot boxes to vote out non-performing municipal councilors.

In a recent conversation with the Center for Risk Analysis, De Ruyter said many councilors are only in office to serve their own selfish means and do not use their privileges to better the lives of residents.

He says many municipalities misappropriate funds leading to an overall decay in electricity infrastructure.

De Ruyter says municipalities owe Eskom an estimated R47-billion in unpaid rates, which if fully collected, and properly used, could significantly boost electricity supply and security.

He says there needs to be a more significant commitment from the SAPS to fight the theft and vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure.

De Ruyter said there are too many instances where suspects are arrested but then soon afterward get released on bail.

He says allowing the suspects to be back on the streets allows them to continue with their criminal activities unabated.

De Ruyter says the fact that some police officers sympathize with criminals makes the fight against corruption a losing battle.

Watch the full interview here.

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Objections from two political parties has forced the Electoral Commission (IEC) to recount some votes in the Cape Metro. This could affect the seat allocation in the Cape Town Council.

The Cape Independence Party argued that because the abbreviation for their party was C I P, votes in at least 12 voting districts in the city could have been misallocated.

In a statement, Western Cape Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse said: “The CIP has alleged that in the LGE 2021 in the Metro, there was a widespread issue of confusion in correlating the abbreviated name of the CIP, namely “CAPEXIT”, as appeared on the ballot papers with the name Cape Independence Party, as it was reflected on the results slips; and therefore they alleged that a number of votes cast in favour of the CIP were not allocated to the CIP as a consequence of such confusion.”

“The CIP had identified 24 voting stations as “critical” Voting Districts on their Objection.  The Commission conducted an investigation in respect of the identified 24 “critical” Voting Districts and based on the evidence obtained from the said investigation, resolved that a recount  be urgently conducted in the presence of the representatives of the political parties and the independent candidates in only 12 of the 24 VD’s that the CIP identified.”

At the same time, the Democratic Alliance has also raised an objection and forced a recount in Avondale, Atlantis and Mamre.

Hendrickse said: “(this) relates to 2 VD’s in Ward 29 viz  VD 97120267 (Parkview Primary School) and  VD 97120346 (Mamre Minor Hall) in the Metro. The recount is for both PR and Ward ballots in the two affected VD’s.”

These recounts could affect the seat allocation for councillors in the Cape Town City Council which is yet to announce the date of its inaugural sitting after the 1 November Local Government Elections.

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged political leaders to encourage their supporters to get vaccinated.

The President says that the more people are vaccinated, the less chances of the upcoming 1 November elections turning into a Covid-19 super-spreader event.

He also urged those, who host and attend political gatherings, to adhere to the safety and social distancing measures at all times.

Follow the President’s Twitter-updates here.

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The Electoral Commission says its new, online voter-registration facility now allows new and existing voters to conveniently register and update their details from the safety of their homes.

Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo says voters can make use of this facility via their computers, mobile phones or tablets.

Mamabolo says this initiative forms part of its commitment to provide greater accessibility and convenience to South African voters.

Read more here.

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