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IEC opens case after 10 special-vote ballots go missing

Published

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The Electoral Commission (IEC) in the Eastern Cape said the 10 ballots, from a Buffalo City voting station, are still missing after further verification. Counting at one station had to be moved, and 51% of the province's votes were cleared by the afternoon.

The IEC opened the case against the presiding officer at the station. Police are investigating together with security forces. The ballots went missing during the two-day special vote.

Provincial Electoral Officer Kayakazi Magudumana said the storage of the ballots is not the IEC's responsibility, so security forces are investigating. She also said dismissed presiding officers in the province were caught transporting political party agents.

The Electoral Commission said vote counting is progressing well.

Key facts

Who
Kayakazi Magudumana (Provincial Electoral Officer, IEC Eastern Cape); Electoral Commission (electoral body that opened the case and is counting the votes)
What
The Electoral Commission (IEC) in the Eastern Cape said 10 ballots from the two-day special vote remain missing after further verification, and it has opened a case against the presiding officer. Police are investigating together with security forces, and counting had to be relocated; the IEC said 51% of the province's votes had been cleared by the afternoon.
When
5 November 2026
Where
Eastern Cape, Buffalo City
Status
Reported

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