MTHATHA, Eastern Cape — Tensions boiled over during a highly contested Mthatha Ward 37 ANC candidate selection meeting, which ultimately collapsed after residents accused party officials of manipulating the electoral process to force through a preferred nominee instead of an independent community choice.
The gathering was originally convened for the community to evaluate and select from four proposed candidates. However, proceedings derailed when locals realized the venue had been packed with individuals from outside the ward. According to a Ward 37 community spokesperson representing the residents, buses transported people from neighboring areas to artificially inflate support for the party’s chosen candidate, effectively marginalizing actual ward residents.
The electoral process faced severe disruptions regarding the voters’ roll. Officials initially arrived without the necessary documentation. When the rolls were eventually produced after demands from the community, residents rejected them as incomplete and fraudulent, noting that the electoral committee continued to push the process forward using the disputed lists. Furthermore, disturbing allegations emerged during the standoff that school children were bused to the venue and supplied with alcohol to participate in the voting.
Adding to the unrest, a female figure linked to the selection process faced serious allegations of extortion. The situation became so volatile that nine local leaders, including a community spokesperson intervened to halt the compromised proceedings.
Ultimately, the venue’s gates and doors were shut down, bringing the meeting to an abrupt end. The community now finds itself without an elected ward representative to address pressing service delivery concerns, as residents firmly rejected the candidate imposed by the internal structures.
