IEC opens case of electoral fraud in Mpumalanga ward

The incident allegedly took place during the municipal ward by-elections held on Wednesday.  

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In a statement, IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said the case was opened after a party agent claimed that two voters had been allowed to vote in the ward 15 by-elections.  

This is despite not being on the relevant segment of the voters’ roll and not residing in the ward.  

"The Electoral Commission will cooperate with and provide support to the investigation.  

"The alleged electoral fraud had no material impact on the outcome of the election in the ward where the winning candidate received 85,67% of the valid votes cast," she said.  

"The Electoral Commission views any allegations of electoral fraud in the most serious light and will not hesitate to take the strongest possible action against any voters or officials who contravene the law."  

Bapela explained that immediately after receiving the complaint, the commission’s representative opened a case with the police and three election officials were relieved of their duties.

"The Local Government's Municipal Electoral Act, 27 of 2000, and its associated regulations make it an offence to vote in a ward in which a voter is not registered or resident.  

"It is also an offence for any person to assist a person to vote where they are not entitled to," she said.  

The commission said Thandeka Vestar Ngcane of the African National Congress (ANC) won in Ward 15 in the Nkomazi Municipality.  

The ANC retained the seat it won in the 2016 Municipal Elections, with 85.67% of the votes cast compared to 76.04% in the 2016 Municipal Elections.  

The commission said the voter turnout on Wednesday was 27.11%.