The North West provincial government says it has submitted reasons why it feels the Tlokwe by-elections should not be set aside.

This was in compliance with a directive by the Constitutional Court before it gave its judgment on the disputed 2013 by-elections.

The Constitutional Court ordered the provincial department of local government and the IEC to furnish reasons why new by-elections should not be held in Tlokwe.

Some of the arguments before the court are that a number of voters were ferried from various areas to vote in wards where they did not live.

A total of 1040 voters were found to be illegal and the issue of the voters roll was also at stake.

Speaking to The New Age, Premier Supra Mahumapelo said: “The Constitutional Court has requested the North West provincial government to respond to certain specific matters. They were asking us to provide reasons why the by-elections must not be held. We made a comprehensive submission.

“Our view was that it would not make sense to have by-elections in the same year where we will have general local elections across the country.

“Another reason is the Tlokwe municipality will malfunction as happened before.

“There were problems after the councillors did not attend council meetings so decisions could not be taken and that affected service

delivery.

“Those who launched complaints are the same people who transported the people from various wards to go to vote.

“The ANC is ready and if the court decides otherwise, we know our people will vote for the ANC again,” he

said.

DA provincial leader Joe McGluwa said they looked forward to the court nullifying the disputed polls.

“I’m strongly of the view that the Constitutional Court will compel the IEC to hold the by-elections by no later than November 28 this year. Hence the ANC will try every single rule in the book not to have by-elections. I will not be surprised if they ask all councillors to resign to drag their feet on the by-elections.

“However, this will leave us with an administrator. Tlokwe municipality must be the starting point in a benchmark for the DA to commence its growth in the North West.

“The by-elections will confirm that the DA is growing in leaps and bounds,” he said.

-TDN

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