Eleven suspects are expected to appear in the Douglas Magistrates’ Court in the Northern Cape on Monday for allegedly destroying 100 ballot papers at Bongani Community Hall last week.
A group of political party supporters allegedly stormed the vote-counting station following a dispute over ballot papers and destroyed the ballot papers.
Northern Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe says the suspects face charges of contravention of the Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2007, malicious damage to property, which will include ballots and damage to the municipal community hall. Other charges will be assault and intimidation.
PODCAST | Northern Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe speaks to SAfm’s First Take SA:
The IEC says results for Douglas will be withheld until a revote is held.
IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya says the law allows a re-vote where ballots are lost or destroyed before counting. The date for the revote will be announced soon, while Hawks investigations continue.
VIDEO | IEC orders re-vote at Douglas in the Northern Cape: