An Ulundi presiding officer charged with violating the Electoral Act during the April elections begged the person who caught her red-handed not to report her, the Esikhawini Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday.
Sindisiwe Mncube was appearing on charges of forgery, after allegedly stuffed a ballot box with papers marked in favour of the Inkatha Freedom Party.
State witness Flora Mncindi told the court that Mncube had begged her not to report her action to the authorities.
She said Mncube had told her that she had been tempted to vote 50 times for the IFP in the province and 50 times on the national ballot.
The court heard that Mncindi caught Mncube with ballots in her jacket when she arrived early on election day to work as a party agent for the African National Congress. Mncube was allegedly stuffing them in the ballot box, the court heard.
The court also heard that Mncube had promised Mncindi a share of her earnings of R2 500 as a presiding officer if she did not report the matter.
Earlier, the defence advocate Robert Sibiya argued that the matter should be heard by the Electoral Court. The request was turned down.
Another state witness, Captain B Gwala, told court that the accused had informed him that she had marked the ballot papers a day before the elections.
A few ANC supporters protested outside the court before the start of proceedings.
The trial will continue on Saturday
. – Sapa