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The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) yesterday decided to give Julius Malema special treatment during a by-election in his hometown of Sheshego.

The DA is particularly concerned with three things:

Firstly, Mr Malema was allowed to approach the voting station in his convoy, and was allowed to drive into the IEC’s cordoned-off area that surrounded the voting station. Voters are usually only allowed to enter this area on foot to wait in line to vote.

Secondly, Mr Malema was allowed to skip the queue and go straight to the voting booths. The IEC is supposed to treat all South Africans equally. In every election, DA and ANC leaders always respectfully wait their turn in line. Mr Malema yesterday showed his disrespect for other voters by jumping the queue.

Thirdly, the IEC barred other voters from entering the voting hall whilst Mr Malema was casting his ballot. DA representatives inside the voting hall report that the IEC issued a specific instruction to keep other voters out of the hall while Mr Malema was voting. Again, special arrangements were made for one individual, whilst other voters had to wait in line outside.

This is unacceptable. Everybody has equal democratic rights. We all have one vote, and we all have to wait in line to cast it.

I have written to the IEC chairperson, Advocate Pansy Tlakula, to demand an explanation for what happened in Sheshego yesterday.