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Ballot papers and special vote stamp stolen in eThekwini

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed the theft of unmarked, unused ballot papers and a stamp used to validate special votes in Ward 2. Police opened a case, and the staff involved lost their duties.

IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Shiburi said a case was opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS). He said the affected staff were relieved of their duties. Reports said the items were taken from Myameni Secondary School, near Botha's Hill, on the night before election day.

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Electoral Officer Ntombifuthi Masinga said the IEC issued a new stamp for election day. She said the stolen stamp was valid only for that day, and staff must check the stamp code when counting starts. She said anyone who tried to bring the stolen ballots back would use the wrong date.

Masinga also said parties may not escort IEC officials who move ballot papers to storage. Only SAPS officers may do so. Shiburi said only candidates and party agents may not wear party regalia inside voting stations.

The IEC said severe weather was imminent in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in the afternoon. It urged voters to cast their ballots early. SAPS lists 165 high-risk voting stations in the province, 124 of them in eThekwini.

Key facts

Who
Ntombifuthi Masinga (Province's electoral officer, KwaZulu-Natal); Independent Electoral Commission (Electoral body that confirmed the theft); Masego Shiburi (IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer); South African Police Service (police service that opened a case over the theft)
What
Unmarked ballots and a ward 2 security authentication stamp were reported stolen from Myameni Secondary School, on the outskirts of Botha's Hill, on the night before election day. The province's electoral officer said a new stamp was issued for the day.
When
4 November 2026
Where
eThekwini, Botha's Hill, KwaZulu-Natal
Status
Reported

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