Schoolchildren spotted playing with abandoned IEC ballot boxes in Mamelodi
However, spokesperson for the IEC, Boitumelo Monaki, said they were aware of the incident and that ‘the counting was finalised’ and ‘during the rollback, the boxes were left at the station for collection.’ Monaki added it was ‘unfortunate that collection was delayed until the next day.’
Mamelodi residents were shocked to see schoolchildren playing with IEC ballot boxes in ward 67 after school on Tuesday.
Local ANC ward party agent Eric Sibiya said he received a call about the children playing with the boxes and tearing apart ballot papers.
“We rushed to the scene, but the children had already gone home and we immediately called the police,” said Sibiya.
The learners were from Zamintuthuko primary school, which was also one of the voting stations in the ward. Two boxes were found outside the school while another one was found inside the school.
The abandoned ballot boxes were for PR candidates and still had stamped ballots inside.
Sibiya said someone had to be held accountable.
“We are still waiting for the police to finish with their investigations. An IEC official later came and took the ballot boxes.”
Sibiya said they were “still shocked” by what happened.
Patriotic Alliance’s Tshwane spokesperson, Virginia Keppler, said the discarding of the boxes was “an absolute violation of the voter’s human rights”.
“Residents in the ward did not have a free and fair election. The IEC must be held accountable and the culprits must get jail time,” said Klepper.
“This is a very important election. People are no longer voting because they are loyal to a particular political party, but because they demand proper service delivery and job creation.
“The evidence is clear that the IEC should apologise to residents and correct their mistake. They should also investigate the culprits responsible and make sure they are brought to book,” Keppler said.
IEC spokesperson, Boitumelo Monaki said they were aware of the incident.
“The counting was finalised. During the rollback, the boxes were left at the station for collection,” said Monaki.
“It was unfortunate that collection was delayed until the next day.”
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