EASTERN CAPE — An arrest has been made in connection with an attempted Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) material theft in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, with one of the suspects identified as a political party proportional representation (PR) candidate. The security breach occurred as the province prepares for the local government elections, prompting the IEC to also dismiss a presiding officer for code of conduct violations in a separate incident.
Attempted Theft of Election Material
The incident occurred at approximately 4:00 a.m. at the Ngcobo police station, which is being used to store electoral security material. According to the IEC, two women arrived at the facility claiming they were authorized to collect voting material on behalf of presiding officers.
However, IEC protocols strictly dictate that presiding officers must collect their own material and are not permitted to send proxies. Upon further investigation, the designated presiding officers confirmed that no such collection arrangement had been made.
The IEC confirmed that the two women attempted, but did not succeed, in stealing the material. Police were initially looking for two individuals in connection with the alleged crime. Currently, one person has been arrested and is being held at a mobile police station while the South African Police Service (SAPS) continues its investigation. The arrested individual is a PR candidate for a political party participating in the current election.
IEC Official Dismissed for Code of Conduct Violations
In a separate development, the IEC has dismissed a presiding officer in the Tanzania area (Ward 13) for violating the commission’s code of conduct.
Kayakazi Magudumana, the Eastern Cape Provincial Electoral Officer, confirmed that the official was released from her duties after being caught ferrying political party agents in her vehicle while conducting home visits. The situation was compounded by the fact that the party agents were distributing political party t-shirts during these visits.
Addressing the dismissal, Magudumana emphasized the rigorous preparation IEC officials undergo. “We train people over a few months. We started training as far back as in September for this election, and we started recruitment much earlier than that,” Magudumana stated. He also noted that all IEC workers are vetted by state security.
Despite the extensive training and vetting, Magudumana rejected any claims of ignorance regarding the rules. “There’s no way that she was not aware. She knew exactly what she was doing,” he said, adding that there are no exceptions for ferrying friends or family members. Because the individual is a presiding officer expected to lead by example during special votes and the main election, the IEC determined she could not be retained.
Protests and Security Preparations
The electoral commission also addressed recent community protests that impacted voting operations in the Matatiele and Amatungulu areas. During the unrest, IEC officials were temporarily locked inside a voting station in Matatiele. Despite the disruptions, the commission confirmed that the affected stations ultimately opened for business.
With the final day of special votes concluding and the main local government elections scheduled for the following day, the IEC and law enforcement are bracing for potential further unrest. Magudumana assured the public that SAPS is fully prepared to handle any groups planning to disrupt the electoral process.
Warning against election disruption, Magudumana stated that anyone attempting to infringe on the public’s right to vote will face the full might of the law, confirming that arrests will be made to ensure a free and fair election.
