Security stamp and ballots reported stolen from KZN voting station
The incident happened last night at Myameni Secondary School, on the outskirts of Botha’s Hill.
Karinda Jagmohan
Ntombfuthi Masinga, KwaZulu-Natal IEC’s electoral officer, during a media briefing at the KZN Results Operations Centre at the Durban International Convention Centre. Picture: Thabiso Goba/EWN
Thabiso Goba/EWN
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in KwaZulu-Natal has confirmed the theft of unmarked ballots and a security stamp from a voting station in eThekwini.
The incident happened last night at Myameni Secondary School, on the outskirts of Botha’s Hill.
The IEC’s security pack, including an authentication stamp, is considered a critical tool at the ballot box.
Like other stamps currently in use, the stamp for ward 2 was issued on Tuesday in a sealed pack and was authorised only for use on today.
The province’s electoral officer, Ntombifuthi Masinga, confirmed that a new stamp was issued for the day.
This means when vote counting begins in eThekwini, personnel must ensure they have the correct stamp code.
“So that we are able to identify if anyone tries to reintroduce those stolen ballots into the voting station today, they would have stamped with the wrong date,” said Masinga.
The staff at Mnyameni Secondary School, were removed following the alleged theft of materials.
Police are investigating, while the IEC said security measures have been implemented, including the issuing of a new stamp with a new code.
The code must be identified on ballots during the counting of votes.
The IEC’s deputy chief electoral officer, Masego Sheburi, said: “It is a requirement that the ballots must be validated by a stamp at the back, and if the stamp together with the stolen ballot is used, it is distinguishable from the stamps used on election day because it was allocated.”
Meanwhile, the IEC has warned that severe weather is imminent in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands this afternoon, urging voters to cast their ballots at the earliest.