Hope Ntanzi|Published
President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed claims that the ANC is using asylum seekers to boost its support in the November 4 local government elections, calling the allegations “a rubbish story” and warning that social media platforms allow unverified claims to spread without accountability.
Speaking at the Black Wednesday commemoration in Sandton on Monday, Ramaphosa addressed a social media post alleging that asylum seekers were being registered to vote for the governing party.
“There’s just no way that the ANC would get asylum seekers to vote for it. There’s just no way. It’s a rubbish story. It does not exist. We never want to do something like that,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the claims highlighted the dangers of social media platforms, where individuals could publish information without being held accountable for its accuracy.
He said a story could be introduced by an individual and then spread widely, despite having no basis.
His remarks come amid a wave of misinformation surrounding asylum seekers and a Constitutional Court judgment on access to South Africa’s asylum application system, which has fuelled debate about immigration ahead of the elections.
IEC rejects claims asylum seekers can vote
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has also dismissed claims that asylum seekers can vote in the upcoming local government elections.
In a statement, the commission said: “This information is incorrect. Asylum seeker status does not give a person the right to vote in South African elections.
“Only South African citizens who are 18 years or older and on the voters’ roll are eligible to vote. Always verify information through official IEC platforms.”
The clarification followed claims circulating online that asylum seekers would be able to vote after obtaining documentation through the country’s asylum system.
The Constitutional Court judgment, handed down in July, concerned provisions of the Refugees Act that restricted access to the asylum application process. It did not grant asylum seekers South African citizenship or voting rights.
The Department of Home Affairs has also rejected claims that the judgment automatically grants citizenship or blanket legal status to foreign nationals.
The department withdrew an operational directive on asylum applications in October after its implementation overwhelmed refugee reception offices and raised concerns about staff safety and public order. It said it would develop a fresh operational approach to comply with the court’s order.
More than 29 million voters registered for local elections
The claims are circulating as political parties prepare for the November 4 local government elections, which will determine control of municipalities across the country.
More than 29 million voters are registered for the elections, while the IEC has cleared 136,790 candidates to contest 10,526 council seats across the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 205 local municipalities.
The elections come amid continued scrutiny of municipal performance, including concerns about service delivery, financial management and accountability.
At the commemoration, Ramaphosa also called on journalists to scrutinise political candidates and their records ahead of the polls.
He acknowledged that governance failures affected municipalities controlled by different political parties, rather than being confined to one party.
“I say this with the level of seriousness that it requires because it is possible that, yes, and in a number of areas, it can be ANC control, DA control, EFF control. I’m finding this across our country, and I’m saying all of us must join in serving the interests of our people on a non-partisan basis,” he said.
Ramaphosa urged voters to examine what candidates promised, whether their commitments addressed residents’ everyday challenges and what their records showed.
Ramaphosa warns about social media disinformation
Ramaphosa’s comments also highlighted concerns about the spread of misinformation on social media in the run-up to the elections.
He criticised the way claims could be circulated by individuals who were not accountable for what they published, allowing unverified information to gain traction.
The asylum-seeker claims have emerged during heightened public debate following the Constitutional Court ruling and changes to the processing of asylum applications. False claims about voting rights have circulated alongside misinformation about citizenship and access to public services.
The IEC has urged members of the public to verify election-related information through its official platforms.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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