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Yesterday, the ANC in a desperate attempt to retain power in the West Rand District Municipality held the IEC officials ransom and obstructed them from doing the jobs.

Councillors in the local municipality had voted earlier in the day for party representatives to the West Rand District Municipality. However, seeing that the numbers and votes were not in their favour, the ANC Speaker prohibited the IEC from doing their jobs of counting the ballots.

Later in the evening, the Speaker adjourned the meeting and the IEC sealed off the ballot boxes and were accompanied by the police to their offices.

The ANC knows that they do not have enough votes on the District and are trying to manipulate the situation to get more councillors sent to the District.

This is a desperate attempt and last resort to cling on to power and delay the takeover of a DA-led government in the district.

The DA fully condemns the ANC’s actions and will lay a complaint to ensure that those responsible for these unlawful actions are held accountable.

The ANC must respect the democratic processes and resist threatening officials from doing their jobs.

Issued by DA Constituency Head, Rand West Jacques Julius