Bitter sweet victory for Jennifer du Pont

MAYIWANE – Voters yesterday evening declared Jennifer du Pont the seventh woman to go into parliament.

However, her victory was bitter sweet as controversy broke out moments after she was declared the winner.

The former civil servant had got 928 votes to beat her rival Pat-Pat Mamba who snatched 778 votes.

As soon as the counting exercise elapsed, Mpucuko Mamba, who came at the third position with 721 votes, demanded an approved letter from the retuning officer, Khangezile Mabuza.

According to the presiding officer, Tsatsakahle Dlamini, the candidates protested against du Pont’s participation in the race to the august House.

"Firstly, they demanded a copy of a letter from the CSB which grants her the permission to stand for the elections. They argued that this was the same reason the election exercise was declared null and void. Secondly, they demanded a letter of citizenship as they alleged that she has dual citizenry," said Dlamini.

Du Pont’s victory was put on ice as she had to go home to look for the necessary documents as her competitors would hear nothing of the victory nor her participation.

Ironically on Monday when she was nominated again to participate in the secondary elections there were no objections. It is only now that she has won that there were objections raised.

It was gathered that the elections officers did not have a copy of the letter approving that the former civil servant has a right to participate and by late yesterday evening they were waiting for her letter.