One king says vote and the other says boycott
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has asked South Africans to vote with their conscience, while AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has urged voters to boycott Wednesday’s local government elections.
Misuzulu’s spokesperson, Mpikayise Buthelezi, said voting gives every citizen a chance to help shape the future of their community. He said concerns about service delivery should come with taking part in choosing public representatives and holding them to account.
“His Majesty calls for peaceful voting and unequivocally condemns political violence, intimidation and interference with any person’s democratic choice. No political outcome can justify the loss of life, the destruction of livelihoods or the division of families and communities. Political leaders and supporters are urged to protect every voter’s dignity and safety, respect electoral officials and resolve disputes through lawful processes,” Buthelezi said.
He said the throne is non-partisan, and the King does not take part in voting or endorse any party. He told SNL24 that the King and his queens do not vote, because all parties belong to him.
The Daily Dispatch reported on Monday that Dalindyebo told voters to stay away from Wednesday’s elections, saying no political party deserves their vote, and asked kings and chiefs to stay out of party politics. It reported that other traditional leaders object, saying a call to stay away from the polls weakens a hard-won right, especially for rural communities.
Scrolla.Africa has not spoken to Dalindyebo or his royal house. In February, he told his subjects to vote for the African Transformation Movement. In September, the Daily Dispatch reported that he would stay out of the campaign until November.
Teen burnt as petrol bombs hit DA candidate’s home
A 17-year-old girl suffered burns when a petrol-bomb attack set fire to DA ward candidate Kayzel Forbes’s home in Kariega on Monday night.
The attack on the Ward 50 candidate’s home happened just after 10pm.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said the teenager woke to the sound of breaking glass and the smell of petrol.
“She discovered that her room was on fire and attempted to extinguish the flames, but the fire spread,” said Gantana.
Other family members tried to help, but the flames engulfed a large part of the house, including the room next to the teenager’s bedroom.
Forbes and four other family members escaped the house. The teenager suffered burns and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
DA provincial leader Andrew Whitfield condemned the attack, calling it “deeply disturbing”.
He urged police to investigate thoroughly and bring those responsible to book.
Whitfield said the attack strengthened the party’s resolve to build safer communities in Nelson Mandela Bay, where residents can live without fear and participate freely in democracy.
Gantana said the Nelson Mandela Bay District Task Team was investigating. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Row over chief’s chair disrupts voting station Electoral Commission says
Special voting was disrupted at a Zululand voting station after Inkosi Lungelo Dlamini found someone sitting in his chair, the Electoral Commission says.
The incident happened at the Dlamini Tribal Court in Tholakele village, ward 5 in eDumbe near Bilanyoni.
The commission says Dlamini found his usual seat occupied, shouted at election staff, removed election material from the venue and threatened to close the station.
Zululand regional manager Phakamani Mabaso said officials were trying to resolve the matter with the Inkosi.
“We are in talks with Inkosi to allow us to continue with our work in order to reopen the venue for Tuesday and the actual day of the elections which is on Wednesday. The incident of his chair was very unfortunate,” Mabaso said.
The commission wants the station reopened for the second day of special voting on Tuesday and for election day on Wednesday.
It is not clear how long voting was disrupted, how many voters were affected or who was sitting in the Inkosi’s chair.
Scrolla.Africa has not received a response from Inkosi Dlamini.
