A rubber stamp that was used in the 2016 local government elections was recently found in the hands of young boys in Ext. 11 and is raising eyebrows.
Mr Chris Segoe, who describes himself as an activist, immediately persuaded the youths to bring it to him and alerted the police and IEC.
According to him, he noticed the ‘tattoos’ on the boys’ arms and realised how serious this was. The boys were aged between nine and eleven. ‘One of the boys claims that the stamp belongs to his friend, the son of a local ward councillor,’ he said.
He added that they went to report the incident at the police station that afternoon and followed the case up with the IEC office in Potchefstroom the following day.
The Ikageng police spokesperson, Const. Kelebogile Trom confirmed that a case had been opened at the station.
Dr Tumelontle Thiba, IEC’s provincial electoral officer, says the IEC reported the matter to the SAPS in Potchefstroom after they were informed that the stamp had been in the possession of a person who was not in the employ of the Commission. ‘The IEC awaits the response of the SAPS investigation,’ she said.
Dr Thiba failed to answer questions about the implications of IEC items getting into the hands of individuals who were not officials of the IEC. She also failed to say whether the Potchefstroom IEC office had reported any IEC material missing.
Segoe says this is very serious and raises a lot of questions.‘This is probably the stamp that was used to stamp ballot papers and IDs. The police and the IEC should get to the bottom of this,’ he said.
The local government elections were held last year on 3 August.
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