Concerns over the security of election materials have emerged during the second day of special voting ahead of Wednesday’s Local Government Elections, after two women, including a proportional representation (PR) candidate, were arrested in the Eastern Cape for allegedly impersonating Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) officials and attempting to remove voting materials from a police station.
The women, aged 57 and 61, were arrested on Tuesday following an incident at Ngcobo Police Station, where they allegedly arrived early on Monday morning claiming they had been sent by a presiding officer to collect election materials.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said the women arrived at approximately 4.30 am and allegedly collected the materials without authorisation.
However, the presiding officer was already at the police station and had not instructed anyone to collect the materials on their behalf.
Police identified the two women before they could leave the premises and confiscated the election materials. They were subsequently arrested.
A case has been opened in terms of Section 68(d) of the Electoral Act 27 of 2000, which deals with impersonating an IEC official.
The IEC’s Eastern Cape Provincial Electoral Officer, Khayakazi Magudumana, confirmed the arrests and revealed that one of the suspects is a PR candidate contesting the 2026 Local Government Elections in Engcobo Municipality.
Magudumana said the women had claimed they were collecting election materials on behalf of presiding officers, but the relevant officials denied giving them permission.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata condemned the alleged interference with the electoral process.
“We will not tolerate any interference with the electoral process. The arrest of the two suspects demonstrates our commitment to upholding the integrity of the elections. Anyone who impersonates an IEC official will face the full might of the law,” Ncata said.
The arrests come amid other reported incidents involving election materials in different parts of the country as the IEC oversees special voting on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of the main voting day on Wednesday, November 4.
In Rustenburg, the IEC has also responded to allegations that one of its officials was caught stealing ballot papers in Ward 19 following special voting.
IEC Deputy Manager of Electoral Matters Kim Christvelder said the official was transporting ballot boxes used during home visits to the nearest voting station when she was confronted by political party representatives.
The IEC maintained that the ballot papers were safe, while investigations into the incident continued.
The allegations have added to scrutiny of the commission’s handling and transportation of election materials, particularly during home visits conducted for voters who are unable to travel to voting stations.
Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal, the IEC launched an investigation after three empty ballot boxes and other election materials were stolen during an overnight break-in at Amahlongwa Community Hall in Zambeni, within the Umdoni Local Municipality.
The incident was discovered on Monday morning when election officials, accompanied by police, arrived to deliver ballot papers ahead of the start of special voting.
Stationery, signage and other non-sensitive election equipment were also reported stolen. A case of theft was opened at Umkomaas Police Station.
KwaZulu-Natal Electoral Officer Ntombifuthi Masinga said the incident would not disrupt voting because the stolen ballot boxes were empty and replacement equipment was available.
“It will have no impact whatsoever on the process because we always supply more than enough ballot boxes at voting stations,” Masinga said.
IEC national strategic stakeholder management officer Mawethu Mosery also clarified that ballot papers had not been stolen during the break-in.
“What was stolen is ballot boxes and ballot booths, not ballot papers,” he said, explaining that ballot papers and the stamps required to validate them were kept in secure storage.
The incidents come as videos circulate on social media showing confrontations involving people identified as IEC officials, with some individuals accusing election personnel of irregularities and possible foul play.
However, the allegations circulating online have not all been independently verified, and the circumstances surrounding the different videos remain unclear. Accusations made in social media posts should not be treated as established evidence of electoral misconduct.
The IEC’s responses to the Rustenburg and KwaZulu-Natal incidents have distinguished between allegations involving ballot papers and incidents involving empty ballot boxes or other election equipment.
More than 2.6 million voters have been approved for special voting, which includes voting at registered stations and home visits for people who are unable to travel to voting stations or will be unavailable on election day.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) has assured the public that security arrangements have been strengthened ahead of the elections, with police deployments informed by intelligence assessments and identified hotspot areas.
Authorities have urged political parties, their supporters and members of the public to avoid intimidation, violence and conduct that could undermine the electoral process.
With the main election taking place on Wednesday, the reported incidents place renewed focus on the protection of election materials, the conduct of electoral officials and the need for transparent investigations into any allegations that could undermine public confidence in the outcome.
The IEC is expected to oversee voting at thousands of stations across the country as millions of registered voters prepare to elect their local representatives.
