ANC official stabbed during special voting

Police are investigating a case of assault in Grabouw after an independent ward candidate allegedly stabbed an ANC official.

Cape Town - Police are investigating a case of assault in Grabouw after an independent ward candidate allegedly stabbed an ANC official during the special votes on Tuesday.

According to an eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous, the incident happened after ANC official Anthony Appel asked independent ward candidate Ivan Kortje to leave the house of a disabled man who was about to cast his special vote.

“No candidates are allowed inside when special votes are made so the IEC asked Kortje to leave but he refused.

“Appel spoke to him and he said Appel couldn’t tell him what to do.

“That’s when he stabbed Appel in the chest. Everybody was shocked because we thought he used a knife. We only saw afterwards that it was his car key,” explains the witness.

She added that Appel was “asvaal geskrik” (shocked).

“There was only a little bit of blood where it pierced his skin,” she said.

But Kortje, who also serves on the police forum, said he only acted in self-defence after being grabbed by Appel and another man.

“I had my key in my hand and must have knocked him with it by accident while I tried to break free,” explained Kortje.

He said everything started when he tried to visit the disabled man.

“Only the home owner can decide who is allowed inside and when I tried to explain this to them they grabbed me and threw me out,” said Kortje.

Appel was not available for comment.

Captain FC van Wyk says the incident happened at about 11.40am in Appletiser Park, Grabouw.

“SAPS Grabouw had an incident earlier yesterday (Tuesday) where two persons had an argument and one person pushed and stabbed another with a car key,” he explained.

Van Wyk said a case of common assault had been opened.

“No arrests have been made yet,” he said.

The matter was also reported to the Independent Electoral Commission.

Elections Bureau