First 'victory' for Zuma
16/12/2007 20:36  - (SA)  

Tie? Put names in a hat Delegates fear vote rigging

Polokwane - Supporters of African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma claimed their first victory - over voting procedure - at the party's 52nd National Conference in Polokwane on Sunday night.

This, after ANC electoral commission chair Bertha Gxowa agreed that all votes - not just those for the top six positions - be counted manually instead of electronically.

Zuma backers had called for a manual count as being more transparent.

ANC Youth League spokesperson Zizi Kodwa told the conference a manual count would "eliminate any suspicion" in the "contested" election. The ANCYL has expressed fears of vote rigging.

Gxowa cautioned that a manual count would take longer than an electronic count.

"We will do it manually, but you must be prepared that you won't get all the election results in time," she told delegates.

'Beaten free and fair'

Kodwa said with manual votes, nominees would be assured they were "beaten free and fair".

"Let's confirm manually, even if it takes long," he said.

Gxowa drew a chorus of boos when she told delegates soon after the conference opened on Sunday morning that the counting of votes for the top leadership positions would take place electronically.

This would be done using scanners, under the scrutiny of observers from the party's provinces. Manual counting would be done where there were disputes.

After considering the objections, Gxowa proposed a compromise - that the votes for the top six positions be counted manually and double-checked electronically.

Votes for the rest of the positions on the national executive committee would still be electronically counted.

The proposal was not accepted when it was put to the floor to be seconded.

In an address to the conference earlier on Sunday, Gxowa also proposed that in the case of a tie for a position, the names of the contenders be put in a hat, and the name drawn declared the winner.

Gxowa said no cameras or cellphones would be allowed in the voting area.

This, after reports that delegates had been promised payment for their votes on providing a photograph of the cross on their ballot paper.

Singing and campaigning were also banned in the area where delegates would cast their ballots.

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