21 April 2009
The Mpumalanga Electoral Commission (IEC) office has today confirmed that
they have since recovered more than 900 of the 1 000 ballot papers that had
fallen off a Mbombela municipal truck that was transporting election material
from the White River warehouse to the Area Managers in Hazyview. The Electoral
Commission was alerted by a Mr J Geldenhuys of Nelspruit of the unfortunate
occurrence.
The IEC subsequently reported the matter to the provincial office of the
South African Police Service (SAPS) whereupon an extensive investigation was
initiated. The Provincial Commissioner immediately assembled a task team to
investigate the matter and was assisted by forensic experts who flew from
Pretoria SAPS Headquarters to Nelspruit this morning. They immediately
conducted the investigation, interviewed all involved including the truck
driver, his assistants and the warehouse officials. They also visited the scene
where the ballots were found.
After consultation with the task team and forensic experts, the Provincial
Commissioner is satisfied that there was no foul play. It would appear that the
ballot papers in question fell off the truck. The credibility of tomorrow's
election shall not be compromised by this incident, as the said ballot papers
are considered invalid unless they have the IEC secret stamp. This stamp is
only put on the reserve side of the ballot paper just before the ballot is
issued to the voter.
The IEC would like to thank Mr Jakkie Geldenhuys and his wife for their
civic conscience and praiseworthy action of collecting ballot papers found
along the road. The South African public and the international community can be
assured that there is no risk of the ballot papers being fraudulently used, as
most of them have been recovered and they bear no IEC official stamp on them.
They also have serial numbers on the counterfoil and can thus be easily
blacklisted.
For media enquiries please contact:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
21 April 2009
