A BALLOT box found discarded in Mzingazi last month, two days after the local elections, was not as initially suspected the result of dubious party ploys at play.
Richards Bay SAPS has concluded its investigation, revealing the bin only contained 32 inadmissible ballots – 23 spoilt and nine cancelled votes.
IEC electoral projects coordinator for uMhlathuze, Makhosi Manqele, said all the votes in the box were still sealed in a tamper-proof plastic bag when it was collected by police from the Sitholinhlanhla Primary School on 5 August.
Sitholinhlanhla was one of the voting stations in the City of uMhlathuze’s Ward 1, which was ultimately won by the ANC.
The ward stretches from Meerensee into an extended area of Mzingazi and was previously held by the DA – one of the parties that demanded a thorough investigation into the controversial matter.
In response to the SAPS findings, DA Chief Whip for the City of uMhlathuze, Christo Botha, said he is satisfied with the explanation from the IEC.
‘We accept that there was no foul play involved and we are happy to know none of the ballots could have influenced the outcome of the elections.’
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