During Wednesday’s local elections, several instances were reported when incorrect ward ballot papers were issued to voters, said the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in a statement on Wednesday evening.
However, the IEC maintained that the voting process had proceeded fairly smoothly throughout the country.
”This [the irregularity] occurred without the presiding officer, party agents or voters realising the mistake.
”When discovered and reported to the commission, it was ruled that the ballot boxes with the affected ballots be sealed immediately and that a new ballot box be used for the correct ballots that were cast thereafter. Political parties were informed of the situation immediately.
”The commission is [at present] assessing the situation and is consulting with political parties regarding the subject,” said the commission.
Voters in Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, were issued the incorrect ballot papers when the polling stations opened on Wednesday morning.
Chris van der Heyde, the National Democratic Convention’s (Nadeco) national party liaison officer, told the Mail & Guardian Online: ”There was a complete breakdown of administration at the level of the municipal electoral office in Msinga,” where there were more than 30 wards being contested.
Norman du Plessis, the deputy chief electoral officer of the IEC, told the M&G Online that the IEC was not at a ”point of finality” regarding the ballot issue in Msinga and that the commission was still discussing the matter.
According to Van der Heyde, the IEC called a meeting with four of the parties contesting in the area shortly after the polls closed at 7pm. It asked the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party and Nadeco to consider the IEC counting the proportional representative ballots and using it as a proxy for the ward ballots.
”I mentioned in the meeting, ‘I know of an MEO [municipal electoral officer] that’s going to get fired.’ And the IEC just looked at me,” said Van der Heyde
Peter Smith, a spokesperson for the IFP, told the M&G Online bluntly when asked about the situation in Msinga: ”It’s a monumental cock-up.”
He said the IEC informed the IFP on Wednesday morning that there was a problem in Msinga, and said it was ”dealing with it”.
”Every one of the ballots was being distributed in the wrong areas and we thought the IEC was dealing with it.
”It’s a big mess. Some people left them [ballot papers] blank.”
Smith added that two districts in KwaZulu-Natal, Nkandla and Ndwedwe, were muddled when the ballot papers were swapped. Voters had their ballot papers changed manually when they voted in those wards.
Three wards in Tshwane were also affected when the wrong ballot papers were distributed on Wednesday morning.
ANC spokesperson Steyn Speed said his party would only comment on the matter once the IEC made its final decision.