By Thapelo Molefe
More than 100 votes will have to be cast again in a Northern Cape community after ballot papers were destroyed when a counting centre was stormed, forcing the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to order a revote.
The Commission has scheduled a fresh election at Bongani Gemeenskapsaal Voting District in Ward 3 of the Siyancuma Local Municipality for 18 November, after more than 100 already-cast but uncounted ballot papers were destroyed.
The incident has prompted the IEC to invoke Section 10 of the Local Government Municipal Electoral Act, which empowers it to order a revote when ballot papers are lost, destroyed or unlawfully removed before counting is completed.
The Commission said the revote was intended to ensure that affected residents had a fair and equal opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote.
Under the arrangements announced on Tuesday, eligible voters can apply for special votes from 10 to 14 November.
Special voting will take place on 17 November between 08:00 and 17:00, either at Bongani Community Hall voting station or through approved home visits.
The main revote will take place the following day, 18 November, from 07:00 to 21:00.
However, the fresh vote will not involve the entire ward or municipality. Only voters registered on the voters’ roll for the affected Bongani Gemeenskapsaal Voting District will be allowed to participate.
Voters can apply for special votes through the IEC website, by sending their identity numbers to 32249 at a cost of R1 per SMS, or by submitting a completed MEC 35 application form at their local IEC office.
The Commission said it had launched a targeted communication campaign and would deploy Municipal Outreach Officers to inform residents about the arrangements.
It urged eligible voters to cooperate with the outreach teams and make use of the opportunity to cast their ballots on 18 November.
