By elections in the Tlokwe Municipality have again been frozen and the municipality is rendered dysfunctional mainly, among others because of the intolerance of the ANC in the province.

When they expelled some former councillors without even subjecting them to disciplinary hearings, little did they know that those people, like human beings have cognitive capacities. The expelled members accordingly accepted their lot and sought refuge elsewhere.

Some joined the United Christian Democratic Party and accordingly registered as candidates for the party in the by-election only to be prevailed upon by the provincial leadership of the ANC to withdraw as candidates from the by election.

It does not require a rocket scientist to realise that the ANC is behind the confusion as their spokesperson Kenny Morolong was the first to announce that the candidates had withdrawn their candidature even before the Electoral Commission could do so.

On closer scrutiny it has come to light that all five withdrawals were written in the same format, on the same font and all those affected had to do was to append their signatures.

Disregard for electoral laws will never cease with the ANC. It is common knowledge that it is improper to prevail upon someone not to support of vote for this or that party. What more then if such person had already completed forms as a candidate.

It is also common knowledge that rewards have been lined and dished out to some of those who withdrew their candidature. This does not deter us in the UCDP. We know the truth shall prevail.

It is common knowledge that the by election has again been put on hold thus jeopardising the smooth running of the municipality while the ANC is running helter skelter with food parcels and title deeds in an effort to appeal to the Tlokwe residents. People see through all that. They will accept the food parcels and still vote for whichever party they wish.

The ANC has to accept that gone are the days when they monopolised voting areas and threw their weight around. The party has lost weight and other parties are on the ascendency. They should not behave as if they own voters by behaving like the Colossus of old.

Sent by: Sipho Mfundisi MP

President: UCDP