A case of alleged electoral fraud has been opened with the South African Police Services in the Nkomazi Municipality in following an incident during the municipal ward by-elections held yesterday.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission, The case was opened after a party agent raised the alarm, claiming two voters had been allowed to vote in the ward 15 by-election despite not being on the relevant segment of the voters’ roll and not residing in the ward.
READ: Roofs blown off by thunderstorms in Nkomazi
“Immediately after receiving the complaint, the Electoral Commission’s representative opened a case with the SAPS and three election officials were immediately relieved of their duties. The Electoral Commission will cooperate with and provide support to the investigation. The alleged electoral fraud had no material impact on the outcome of the election in the ward where the winning candidate received 85,67% of the valid votes cast,” read the statement.
ALSO READ: Transport Inspectorate vehicle bursts into flames
The IEC further said it views any allegations of electoral fraud in the most serious light and will not hesitate to take the strongest possible action against any voters or officials who contravene the law.