The African National Congress (ANC) has lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) regarding an extremely offensive statement made by Mr Johan Killian, the New National Party (NNP) premier-candidate for Gauteng, during the weekend of the 15-16 May 1999.
At an NNP election rally in Boksburg, the Beeld newspaper reports that Mr Killian amongst other things said: "The ANC plans to steal the votes of those who have registered but have not voted by using their names to cast votes on ANC ballot papers." The Beeld newspaper reports Mr Killian as further saying: "I challenge the ANC to take me to court on this statement. When the voting stations close on voting day, the ANC will be looking up the voter's roll for those who did not vote. The ANC will take the ballot papers and cast an ANC vote on behalf of those who did not vote and throw these ballots into the ballot box."
The ANC charges that Mr Killian has made a malicious and defamatory statement to the effect that the ANC intends committing electoral fraud. In addition, Mr Killian's remarks cast severe aspersions against the IEC itself suggesting that it lacks competence to run free and fair elections and might even stoop to collaborating with a political party in the commission of electoral fraud.
Taking Mr Killian at his word, the ANC has instructed legal counsel to institute proceedings against him and has lodged a formal complaint with the IEC to the same effect. The ANC challenges the NNP to distance itself from the remarks made by Mr Killian and to take the appropriate disciplinary action against its premier-candidate in Gauteng. Failure on the part of the NNP to respond positively to this demand will be regarded by us as an endorsement of Mr Killian's inflammatory and defamatory remarks. The ANC reserves the right to pursue other options in that instance.
Issued by The African National Congress
Elections Media Centre
Braamfontein
19 May 1999
All inquiries please contact Z Pallo Jordan 011-339-1111