Two women were arrested on Tuesday after they allegedly impersonated an Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) official to collect voting material at Ngcobo police station in the Eastern Cape.
According to a police statement, the incident happened in the early hours of Monday 2 November, when two suspects arrived at the station and collected voting material, claiming they had been sent by the presiding officer. The presiding officer was already in the queue at the station and had not sent anyone. The suspects were identified before they left and the material was confiscated.
The charge
A case was opened under Section 68(d) of the Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2000, which prohibits impersonating an IEC official. The two women, who have not been named, are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata said: "We will not tolerate any interference with the electoral process. The arrest of the two suspects demonstrates our commitment to upholding the integrity of the elections. Anyone who impersonates an IEC official will face the full might of the law."
Why it matters on Election Day
Voting stations are open from 07:00 to 21:00 today, and the IEC has urged voters to be alert to false information about voting day. Voting material is handed over by presiding officers, and police are on standby at stations nationwide.
What we do not yet know
The police statement does not say when the two women will appear in court, what they allegedly intended to do with the material, or whether any other stations were targeted. We will update this report when more is confirmed.
