IEC opens case against presiding officer over missing Eastern Cape ballots
The IEC said counting had to be relocated because of the missing ballots that disappeared during the two-day special vote.
Babalo Ndenze
Electoral Commission CEO Sy Mamabolo has briefed the nation following the close of Day 1 of Special Voting, noting a successful start across the country. Picture: IEC South Africa
IEC South Africa
The Electoral Commission (IEC) in the Eastern Cape said it has experienced a few "glitches" and is still missing 10 ballots that have not been accounted for at one voting station.
The IEC has now opened a case against the presiding officer, and an investigation has been launched by the police.
But the Electoral Commission said vote counting is progressing well and has managed to clear 51% of the votes in the province by this afternoon.
The IEC said counting had to be relocated because of the missing ballots that disappeared during the two-day special vote.
Provincial Electoral Officer Kayakazi Magudumana said at one polling station in Buffalo City, counting had to be stopped because ballots were missing.
At the second station, a total of 10 ballots went missing from the special voting.
She said that these remain missing after further verification.
Magudumana said: "The 10 ballots remain missing. We've opened a case against the presiding officer; there is an investigation going on as well with the security forces because the storage is not ours."
Magudumana also said they have also had to dismiss presiding officers in the province who were caught transporting political party agents.