EWN Elections 2026

Masego Sheburi offers condolences after North West presiding officer dies on 1st day of special voting

The Electoral Commission has announced the death of the presiding officer in Mahikeng, saying she collapsed and died at the voting station where she was serving.   

Lindsay Dentlinger

Masego Sheburi, IEC’s Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, on 4 November 2025, during a media briefing on the preparedness for elections. Picture: Thabiso Goba/EWN

Masego Sheburi, IEC’s Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, on 4 November 2025, during a media briefing on the preparedness for elections. Picture: Thabiso Goba/EWN

Thabiso Goba/EWN

An electoral presiding officer in the North West has died, and another is in hospital after being hit by a car, as they were preparing for the first day of special voting ahead of Wednesday’s polls.   

The Electoral Commission has announced the death of the presiding officer in Mahikeng, saying she collapsed and died at the voting station where she was serving.   

Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi offered his condolences to the woman’s family at a lunchtime briefing.   

Sheburi said, “The Commission is providing the necessary support to the affected officials who are at the stations as well as the family of the now-deceased colleague.”   

Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal, Sheburi said an election official was involved in a car accident as she was making her way to the voting station this morning.   

He said, “One of our staff members was involved in a motor vehicle accident. She has been rushed to a hospital. The person was a deputy presiding officer at our voting station in the uKhahlamba district.” 

Original EWN source reporting