The former MK Party (MKP) senior official who accused former president Jacob Zuma’s party of forging thousands of signatures to meet registration requirements for the elections has officially lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Lennox Ntsodo, who once played a pivotal role within the MKP, claims that the party resorted to fraudulent tactics due to insufficient support.
According to Ntsodo’s statement, personal details from unsuspecting jobseekers were misappropriated to fabricate voter support.
“In my previous role, I was tasked with managing the collection of signatures required to register the MK Party for the election,” wrote Ntsodo.
“It came to my attention that the party was significantly short of the legal requirement of 15 000 signatures.
“Under directives from senior party leaders, a concerted effort was made to forge signatures using unlawfully obtained personal details from a jobseeker database managed by the Cape Metro council.”
Full confession to police
In his complaint, dated May 6, Ntsodo says he tried to blow the whistle about the alleged fraud but was warned that this would implicate him in the illegal activities.
He turned to the SA Police Service, where he confessed, hoping for immunity in exchange for his cooperation and testimony.
He claimed that when he approached the IEC earlier this year to report these activities, an IEC official advised him against doing so because it might link him to the reported illegal activities.
He states in the letter: “Given the gravity of the situation and my moral obligation to uphold the law, I proceeded to lodge a full confession with the SAPS under a Section 204 application, which is currently being processed.”
“On Saturday, April 20, I submitted a detailed statement to the SAPS, outlining the methods used for the forgery and the individuals involved.
“This confession was made in the hope of obtaining immunity from prosecution in exchange for my full cooperation and truthful testimony regarding these criminal activities.”
Vulnerability in the electoral framework
Sunday World has seen a receipt for the complaint that the former senior official of the MKP filed with the IEC, which previously acknowledged lacking a system to check the legitimacy of signatures on such a large scale.
This revelation raises questions about the robustness of the electoral registration process and whether existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent fraud.
The allegations by Ntsodo come at a time when the MKP is grappling with various legal challenges and internal strife, potentially complicating its campaign strategies.
Ntsodo’s complaint has not only exposed alleged nefarious activities within the MKP but also highlighted a critical vulnerability in the electoral framework that could have broader implications for the legitimacy of the elections.
The IEC is under pressure from this case to improve its verification procedures and make sure that electoral law violations like these are not only prevented but also that those who commit them are held responsible.
Ntsodo wrote: “Given the developments and my formal statement, I am now requesting the IEC to initiate a thorough investigation into these allegations.
Sufficient basis to investigate
“It is imperative that the IEC take decisive action to investigate these claims to ensure the integrity of our electoral system and to uphold public confidence in our democratic processes.
“The details I have provided to the police, coupled with additional evidence I am prepared to furnish, should serve as a sufficient basis for the IEC to commence an investigation.
“It is crucial that such fraudulent activities are addressed promptly to prevent any undermining of the upcoming elections.
“I am fully aware of the seriousness of these allegations and the potential impact they may have on the perceived integrity of the electoral process.
“As a citizen committed to democratic principles, I feel it is my duty to bring these issues to light and assist the relevant authorities in rectifying these wrongs.”
The accusations made in Ntsodo’s complaint have not yet received a formal response from the IEC, but the days ahead will be critical as the electoral body works through what could be one of the biggest obstacles to its operations in recent memory.
