#IMadeMyMark: IEC officials ambushed in Bushbuckridge after counting of votes
They were ambushed late last night by unknown men, the commission said.
Officials of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) escaped unharmed on Election Day after being ambushed shortly after having concluded vote counting.
In a statement, the commission said the officials were at the Plaatjie Primary School in Bushbuckridge in Ward 24, after overseeing the local government elections. They were ambushed late last night by unknown men, the commission said.
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The officials managed to escape. In fleeing the scene, some equipment and ballot papers remained behind in their vehicle.
“Fortunately, the ballot papers had been counted and the signed slip confirming this was on the person of one of the officials when they fled the scene,” said the commission.
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The IEC said it was pleased that no one was harmed and that this act of criminality did not compromise the votes from the ward.
“We hope that the suspects are found and that they face the full might of the law. Counselling for our officials will be arranged given the trauma they have experienced,” the commission said.
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