DA loses seats in UCT vote squabble

[Nom Chompsky]

http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/da-loses-seats-in-uct-vote-squabble-1.1402265

UCT is at the centre of a political mudslinging match after seven DA candidates were stripped of their seats on the 2013 Student Representative Council, following complaints of campaign irregularities.

The DA Student Organisation (Daso) secured seven seats in the elections held earlier this year. Seven independent candidates also won seats, and the SA Student Council (Sasco) won three.

But following the elections, complaints were laid about the Daso campaign.

On Thursday the incumbent SRC ruled that the seven Daso candidates should be stripped of their seats. But Daso said yesterday it would appeal against the decision because it was “politically motivated” and “procedurally flawed”.

Daso’s campaign, which cost double the allocated budget, included free candyfloss and hot chocolate, visits to campus by DA leaders such as Lindiwe Mazibuko, and the use of iPads and laptops to allow people to vote on the spot.

Complaints were laid that the organisation had broken the rules by exceeding its budget, and that the visits of the senior DA officials had not been declared in the group’s campaign plans.

The use of campaigners’ personal laptops and iPads to allow voters to vote using the online system was also irregular.

An investigation was conducted by the UCT elections committee earlier this month, after which more than 2 000 of the electronic votes were disqualified, and Daso was ordered to pay back the money it overspent on its campaign.

The campaign budget was R6 600, but Daso spent R13 745.71.

This ruling was then appealed against by other parties, which said the punishment was too lenient.

The appeal was conducted by the current SRC, which on Thursday upheld the earlier guilty rulings on the use of laptops and iPads, as well as the non-declaration of campaign plans.

In a statement released on Thursday, the SRC said Daso had “grossly” overspent its budget, then tried to cover this up by submitting “fraudulent” accounting costs to the elections committee.

Claims that Daso had intimidated students into voting, and that mass marketing had been done by a non-student, were not upheld due to insufficient evidence.

The SRC ruled that the seven must lose their seats.

Daso had until yesterday to appeal to UCT vice-chancellor Max Price.

The organisation said it was appealing: “Sasco lost badly, only managing to get three candidates elected. We believe that the Sasco-dominated SRC’s decision was nothing more than an attempt to secure Sasco’s continued control of the SRC, even though they lost the election.”

Sasco general secretary for the Western Cape, Monwabisi Luthuli, said the results of the investigation showed that the party did not have the “purity” it claimed.

“We hope that the party will not now intimidate vice-chancellor Max Price, because then UCT will become a battle zone of politics in the Western Cape,” he added.

The ANC’s Marius Fransman, who earlier in the week released a statement damning the practices of Daso during the election, said he was pleased that the seven had lost their seats.

“It’s clear that the DA meddled on campus, and they must come clean now with a public apology and retraction.”

Earlier in the week, an organisation calling itself the Friends of Democratic Fair Elections released a statement on the issue.

It said: “We want a fair SRC election process not interfered with by elders who are not students, like that political witch [Helen] Zille and her fat suitcase Lindiwe Mazibuko.”

LOL!

 

[ToxicBunny]

Tooo bloody funny.

and i'm still wondering where this stupid "Friends of xxxxxxxx" crap has come from.

 

[Nom Chompsky]

http://blogs.24.com/friendsofdemocraticelections/2012/10/05/uct-src-state-of-emergency/

FRIENDS OF DEMOCRATIC FAIR ELECTIONS (FDFE)

STATEMENT ON UCT SRC ELECTIONS 2013 OUTCOMES: 04 OCTOBER 2012

We as the Friends of Democratic Fair Elections are highly disgusted and dismayed by the outcomes of the SRC elections which to us are bogusly cooked and invented to the advantage of a particular set of confused monkeys who ran for UCT SRC 2013. Not only are those who think these results

are fair, dreaming, but are highly intoxicated in that dream. It would first require them to sober up in that dream, and then wake up to realise that there is no way possible that these elections are a true reflection of democracy and a true reflection of student’s voice. We are highly flabbergasted that the IEC can be a referee and a player at the same time.

We have recently learnt that a number of candidates ran under the banner of an
organization, DASO for SRC UCT and did all they could to contravene the by-laws governing SRC elections. In which the IEC took a stance on the issue.

What shocks us is the romantic ruling made by the IEC on the conduct of the charged, as to us this clearly constitutes disqualification in line with clause 6.6 outlined in the by-laws for UCT SRC elections. We know that repaying that R7145.71 will be equal to thanking the IEC for turning a blind eye to law.

We want a fair SRC election process not interfered with by elders who are not student’s like that political witch Zille and her fat suitcase Lindiwe Mazibuko. We will do all we can to protect democracy in remembrance of those who suffered the ultimate price for us to enjoy the freedom many fought for.

The following charges were laid against this organization and they were found to be
guilty of all the charges:

1. Complaints Received during Vote Week:
The Committee had before it several complaints against DASO. The Committee found that DASO contravened by-laws by the unauthorized use of laptops and IPADS to students to vote; and by not declaring the visits of senior DA politicians as campaign plans. The SRC Election By-Laws contravened were:

• “Candidates are required to:

6.1.6 communicate all campaign plans to the SRC Elections Committee before implementing them.

• 6.9 Neither a candidate not his/her campaign team members may not (sic) collect or
handle ballot boxes and papers, and nor may they be within a five meter radius of ballot boxes during vote week, except cast their own votes.

• 9.1 There shall be such polling booths, as the SRC Election Committee may deem good and sufficient.

• 9.3 No person shall temper or interfere with ballot boxes, papers and/or any other
election materials” (SRC Election By Laws).”
Several other complaints were dismissed on technical grounds. The Election Committee
found itself in the unfortunate position of having limited reasonable sanctions with which to penalize DASO.

The Election Committee takes an exceedingly dim view of DASO‟s conduct. We urge all the relevant structures to ensure that rules and by-laws be reviewed so as to limit such conduct in the future.

2. Campaign Spending
A full report on Campaign Spending is available on Vula. The Election Committee requested both SASCO and DASO to reply to our queries on their campaign spending.

Our findings were:
• SASCO had undeclared activities (R53.17) but still spent within maximum amount
permitted.

• DASO had overspent on its declared activities (R6643.50) and undeclared activities
(R502.21) and in total overspent by R7145.71. The Election Committee has penalized DASO with a fine of R7145.71, to be paid to the Elections Committee immediately.

WE CALL UPON ALL UCT STUDENTS TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO DEMOCRACY AND SUBMIT THEIR CONCERNS TO THE IEC AND THE CURRENT SRC!!!

Mau Tse Tung once said, “Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is war is politics with bloodshed”. While Andro Cathrodriello stated that: “the most exciting and final stage of the revolution is violence”.

Issued by Friend of Democratic Fair Elections (FDFE).

 

[Nerfherder]

Complaints were laid that the organisation had broken the rules by exceeding its budget, and that the visits of the senior DA officials had not been declared in the group’s campaign plans.

The use of campaigners’ personal laptops and iPads to allow voters to vote using the online system was also irregular.

Ok I know that rules are rules... but really.

This is grounds for a fine... not for taking away seats.

 

[FoXtroT]

Not gonna really comment on the conduct of DASO and what their punishment should be however the fact that the current SRC can decide on the fate of the next SRC is not fair at all.

 

[w1z4rd]

So I read this thinking wow, bastard cheaters, why should they throw a hard earned name away... and then I see they got into trouble for spending and being innovative. I guess they pushed the rules far enough to get some kinda reprimand, but this seems a bit harsh.

On the upside, perhaps this is what they need. Next time they will pay more attention to the rules

 

[ToxicBunny]

I love the fact that the "Friends of Democratic Fair Elections" quotes Mao Tse Tung and some unknown as if they are authorities on Democracy.

 

[MickeyD]

Sasco disrupts SRC election by stealing ballot box

Yes, SASCO, this is your definition of democracy.... if you cannot win, then disrupt the process!

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University has advised that the results of Wednesday's SRC election, will possibly only be announced today.

University spokesperson, Rosslyn Baatjies, says one of the parties standing for election, allegedly for SASCO, took it upon himself along with his supporters to disrupt the process as it became apparent that DASO was well ahead with only one station to be concluded.

The electrical substation situated next to the food court area on the South Campus where the count was being done.

The lock and door were broken in the process.

Baaitjies says alleged SASCO supporters entered and took possession of DASO ballots of which many were found strewn outside afterwards.

The SAPS then focused on the safe removal of the IEC and NMMU student affairs staff from the facility.

The University says the matter is under investigation.

http://www.algoafm.co.za/article.aspx?id=3550

 

[thestaggy]

This disturbs me;

Mau Tse Tung once said, “Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is war is politics with bloodshed”. While Andro Cathrodriello stated that: “the most exciting and final stage of the revolution is violence”.

In other words, this lot will fck schit up if things don't go their way?

 

[ToxicBunny]

I still want to know who this Andro Cathrodriello is...

Sounds Italian, and well they're not exactly known for having the most progressive political leaders of late.

 

[Helghast]

Didn't know this thing was so big I would see it here. Heard about it the other day, know some people in DASO and I know this one guy who did kind of force people to vote on the spot.

 

[Nerfherder]

I still want to know who this Andro Cathrodriello is...

Sounds Italian, and well they're not exactly known for having the most progressive political leaders of late.

i just Googled and the only two results are the article and this thread.

You don't see that often.

 

[ToxicBunny]

i just Googled and the only two results are the article and this thread.

You don't see that often.

Yeah, thats what I saw as well.... very odd... I have googled a few variations of the name, and the statement as well... nothing comes up.

 

[Garson007]

Ban political association from SRC elections. FFS, it's a University. Every single person should be declared an independent beforehand.

And yes, DASO cheated so they should be reprimanded by vacating their seats and have a bi-election to fill said seats.

 

[Nicodeamus]

I love the fact that the "Friends of Democratic Fair Elections" quotes Mao Tse Tung and some unknown as if they are authorities on Democracy.

It is basically SASCO..