‘I sit here in tears,’ – Celebrity chef in Belgium denied the right to vote

by Sergio Miller

With the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) giving international citizens an opportunity to vote this past weekend, many flocked out in large numbers to cast their ballots.

While many were joyful about the opportunity to have done so, one South African expat currently living in Belgium was allegedly denied the opportunity to cast her vote.

Celebrity chef Fikile ‘Fikz’ Zungu recently took to social media criticising the IEC and Belgian Embassy accusing them of “sabotaging” her right to vote.

Taking to X (an app formerly known as Twitter) the chef who worked at the South African Embassy in Belgium for 14 years said that she followed all the necessary requirements to ensure that she was eligible to vote.

After consulting those working at the embassy, she was informed that everything was good ahead of the elections, and that she has been registered to vote. However, when voting day came, she was later told that she was not on the list of the registered voters at the Belgium Embassy.

After thorough inspection she said a man assisted her and told her that she was indeed registered to vote, however only in South Africa and not in Belgium.

She explained that her suspicions were alarmed after a white woman with a similar problem entered the building and was immediately assisted to vote, while she was denied.

She later filed a complaint with IEC commissioner Glen Mashini stating that the very same people who told her she was registered earlier in this year were the ones who said she was not registered

“I find the embassy’s actions as a gross injustice and personal because the embassy fired me three and a half years ago. Therefore, I feel that I am being sabotaged personally as the embassy and ambassador herself never made any effort to find out what my problem was today.

“I sit here in tears wondering what I have done to my country as a black person to be treated this way.”

After sharing her story on X, the IEC responded saying that the matter would be investigated.

Also see: Springbok star and other expats make their voice count in voting