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EFF to open criminal case against IEC over special votes

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

The Economic Freedom Fighters in the Eastern Cape alleges a ballot box with special votes was opened without its agents present in the Nomandamba Voting District. The party says several ballot papers were missing and counting there has stopped.

The EFF says the box was opened in the Nomandamba Voting District, under the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality. It says several ballot papers were missing when the box was inspected. The party said it will open the case on Thursday morning.

EFF MP Veronica Mente said the provincial Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) investigated the allegations. She said the IEC agreed the incident was fraud. She also said counting in the district is suspended and all election materials are quarantined.

Key facts

Who
Veronica Mente (EFF MP); Economic Freedom Fighters (party that alleges irregularities and will open a criminal case); Electoral Commission of South Africa (electoral body the EFF will open a criminal case against)
What
The EFF alleges a ballot box with special votes was opened without its agents present in the Nomandamba Voting District, under the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality, and that several ballot papers were missing. EFF MP Veronica Mente says the provincial IEC investigated and agreed the incident constituted fraud, and counting in the district has been suspended.
When
5 November 2026
Where
Nomandamba Voting District, Intsika Yethu Local Municipality, Eastern Cape
Status
Reported

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