The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has replaced a security stamp after unmarked ballots and the original stamp were reported stolen from a voting station in eThekwini, placing the focus on the safeguards used to protect the integrity of the count.
The incident occurred at Myameni Secondary School, on the outskirts of Botha’s Hill, where the school had been designated as a voting station. The theft was reported overnight, according to the IEC, which said the missing materials included ballots that had not yet been marked by voters and an authentication stamp used to validate ballots.
New stamp issued for voting day
KwaZulu-Natal electoral officer Ntombifuthi Masinga confirmed that a replacement stamp had been issued for use at the station. The new stamp carries a different code, allowing election officials to distinguish ballots processed with the authorised equipment on voting day from any material that may have been removed during the theft.
The replacement is intended to provide a visible check when ballots are examined and counted. The IEC said staff must verify the stamp code during the counting process, particularly if any of the stolen ballots are brought back to the station.
“So that we are able to identify if anyone tries to reintroduce those stolen ballots into the voting station today, they would have stamped with the wrong date,” said Masinga.
The security measure does not change the requirement that ballots must be validated. Instead, it gives counting officials an additional way of identifying material that was not processed with the stamp allocated for the election day operation at the station.
How officials will check the ballots
IEC deputy chief electoral officer Masego Sheburi said ballots must carry a stamp on the reverse side. The code allocated to the replacement stamp will therefore be checked against the ballots presented during the count.
“It is a requirement that the ballots must be validated by a stamp at the back, and if the stamp together with the stolen ballot is used, it is distinguishable from the stamps used on election day because it was allocated,” said Sheburi.
The commission’s process at the station now includes several immediate checks:
- the original security stamp has been withdrawn from use;
- a replacement stamp with a new code has been issued;
- counting personnel must confirm the correct code on the back of ballots; and
- police are investigating the reported theft of the ballots and election material.
The IEC said staff members at the school were removed after the alleged theft. The source information does not indicate whether any arrests have been made or identify a suspect in connection with the incident. The police investigation remains under way.
Security concerns during a tense election period
The incident comes as KwaZulu-Natal police deal with a wider set of election-related cases. Police have recorded 18 criminal cases linked to election activity in the province, with seven arrests reported. Those cases include an allegation involving a police sergeant who arrived at a voting station in the Mphithini area of Donnybrook in a vehicle displaying political party posters.
The officer was removed from election-related duties, and internal investigations are under way. Acting provincial commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba said unprofessional conduct by police officers would not be tolerated. While that case is separate from the reported theft at Myameni Secondary School, both incidents underline the importance of strict controls around election operations and the conduct of personnel assigned to them.
Weather warning issued for Midlands voters
The IEC has also warned of severe weather expected in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands during the afternoon. Voters in the region, including those travelling to stations around the Botha’s Hill area, were urged to cast their ballots as early as possible.
The warning adds a practical concern for voters and election staff already managing the security incident. The IEC has not indicated that voting at Myameni Secondary School has been cancelled. It has said security measures have been implemented and that the replacement stamp is in place for the day’s voting and counting procedures.
For the count, the key safeguard will be the verification of the stamp code on every ballot. Any ballot carrying the stolen stamp or an incorrect date code should be distinguishable from those processed with the replacement equipment. The IEC’s explanation is aimed at ensuring that the loss of the materials does not prevent officials from identifying valid election material.
As the process moves from voting to counting, officials will have to account for the ballots issued, inspect the validation marks and record any irregularities. The police investigation will separately seek to establish how the material was removed from the station. Further details about the circumstances of the theft and any possible arrests were not available in the information provided.
| Item | IEC response |
|---|---|
| Unmarked ballots | Security checks during counting |
| Original stamp | Withdrawn after the reported theft |
| Replacement stamp | Issued with a new code |
| Investigation | Police are probing the incident |
