Sixty-five people illegally changed their ward registration in a suspected attempt to rig tomorrow’s Ward 28 by-election, IEC officials confirmed.

Claims that 116 individuals were unlawfully registered with home addresses in Ward 28 (Shakaskraal) in an apparent attempt to sway the outcome of the election were investigated by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

The IEC has since verified that 65 of the names on the list do not reside in the ward, while 37 were confirmed as legitimate residents. The status of the remaining individuals could not be verified due to unoccupied or untraceable addresses, meaning they would not be able to vote in the by-election tomorrow.

IEC regional manager Paul Daniel confirmed that officials conducted a door-to-door verification process.

“We went house to house to verify if those people were indeed residing at the said addresses,” said Daniel. “We could not locate anyone at a number of the listed homes.”

He said IEC controls were in place to prevent fraudulent voting and that electoral staff were ready for the 3 775 registered voters on Wednesday.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former ANC ward councillor Doeshiee Govender.

Govender is now contesting the seat under the banner of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, facing off against New Mlondo of the African National Congress (ANC), Mzukiswa Mabengu of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and Gibson Mbuthu of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Two voting stations have been established: Shakaskraal SA Primary School, which expects 871 voters, and North Coast Agricultural College, anticipating 2,904 voters.

Polls open at 7am and close at 9pm.

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