This seems to be quite a lot of dirty tactics in the run-up to this year's elections.

We've got the ANC going to court to stop the IFP from holding election rallies. Maybe that one is over now that the two parties seem to have come to some form of agreement.

We've got disruptions of political meetings and political debates.

The insults have been flying - although some of them have been quite amusing standing on the outside. I guess if they're aimed at you they're not quite so funny.

I hope we get to find out who was behind this stunt before voting day:
The African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday denied distributing fake Democratic Alliance (DA) pamphlets in Mpumalanga.

"An investigation into allegations that the ANC was involved in the distribution of fake Democratic Alliance pamphlets in Mpumalanga has proven to the contrary," said the ANC in a statement.

The DA issued a statement last month alleging that Ntombikayise Jeanette Mahlangu, the ANC candidate in the by-elections for Mpumalanga's Ward 4 in the Steve Tshwete Municipality, distributed a pamphlet made to look like it came from the DA.

Written in English and Afrikaans it read: "Help the DA to claim what has been stolen from you. Helen Zille is asking for a few minutes of your time to contribute to change. Now that the ANC has split, we have a real opportunity to get into government in provinces all over South Africa. We can't do it without your help.

"It's a call to every white in South Africa and abroad. If you have a club/society, church or a community organisation, bring them along, we have funds available to finance you so that we together can make it happen.

"So far we've managed to get Cope and Independent Democrats on our side for our usage. What are you waiting for, try by all means to convince your domestic worker to vote for DA. We need everyone on board to stop Jacob Zuma's ANC from getting a two-thirds majority in 2009."

DA spokesperson Anthony Benadie said: "In the pamphlet, the DA is portrayed as a racist party, claiming that the DA wants to bring back the days of 'permits', in order to fight the 'Swart Gevaar'.
full story from M&G here
It's genius, really.

Now there is talk of intimidation in one of the latest by-elections.

Yep! Quite a circus this time around. The stakes must be high.