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Lost ballot papers
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