Malema alleges IEC ‘thugs’ steal election votes, calls for members to be vigilant

By Akani Nkuna

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Sunday accused the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) of rigging and deliberate misrecording of election results, saying the party needed “vigilant” agents and stronger systems to monitor voting processes.

“The IEC, amongst its staff members, there are thugs and their role is to steal votes. So that is why we need vigilant men and women who are never tired, who understand they must pay attention to [the finer] details if you are dealing with thugs,” Malema said.

He was speaking at the closing session of the EFF’s second plenum of its 3rd National People’s Assembly at the Birchwood Hotel in Gauteng, after a three-day gathering focused on political objectives and preparing for local government elections.

He said the party should develop a tracking system to monitor