The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in KwaZulu-Natal has increased security measures at its storage facilities following a series of incidents where party supporters attempted to forcefully gain entry into them. According to Ntombifuthi Masinga, the IEC KZN provincial electoral officer, the incidents occurred during the roll-back process, with supporters of one contesting party trying to access a satellite storage facility at Dassenhoek library. The South African Police Service (SAPS) intervened, dispersing the crowd and preventing any material from being tampered with or compromised.
Similar attempts to gain unauthorized access were reported in Richmond, uMkhambathini, and Pietermaritzburg, with political parties trying to access the facilities or post their private guards. The SAPS successfully intervened in these incidents, restoring order and ensuring that the Electoral Code of Conduct was upheld. Masinga expressed concern about the sudden surge of interest in accessing IEC storage facilities, emphasizing that these facilities are not public and that there is no reason for people to know where materials are stored.
Masinga was updating the media on the progress and status of the final day of the special voting process in the province. She noted that since 2024, the IEC has been experiencing incidents of people showing an interest in their storage facilities. The commission is working to ensure that voting materials are secure and that the electoral process is not compromised. The IEC has also taken steps to address concerns about the integrity of the voting process.
In a separate incident, the IEC released a presiding officer from her duties after she was seen boarding an e-hailing taxi branded with party colors while carrying election material. An investigation established that the taxi belonged to the presiding officer and was driven by her son. The commission terminated the services of the presiding officer on the grounds of transporting election material in a vehicle branded with party colors and logo.
By late afternoon, 133,931 of the 362,878 approved special votes had been administered, accounting for 37% of the total number of approved special votes. The IEC is working to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and that the voting process is conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The IEC has urged all stakeholders to respect the Electoral Code of Conduct and to refrain from actions that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process. The commission is working closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that any incidents of misconduct are investigated and addressed. The IEC has also emphasized the importance of maintaining the security and integrity of voting materials.
The increased security measures at IEC storage facilities are aimed at preventing any further incidents of unauthorized access and ensuring that the electoral process is conducted in a secure and transparent environment. The IEC will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that the voting process is fair, free, and credible.
Key points
- The IEC has increased security measures at its storage facilities in KwaZulu-Natal following a series of incidents where party supporters attempted to gain unauthorized access.
- A presiding officer was released from her duties after being seen transporting election material in a vehicle branded with party colors and logo.
- By late afternoon, 37% of the total number of approved special votes had been administered in the province.
