IEC to tighten security following vehicle hijacking and staff muggings in Ward 07

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has said it will work with law enforcement agencies to curb criminal activities after one of its vehicles was hijacked in Finetown as it conducted special votes for the 28 June Ward 07 by-elections and its staff were mugged in a separate incident before they opened the polling station.

By Ottis Manyoba

IEC’s spokesperson, Kate Bapela told GLOBE POST: “The Electoral Commission regrets criminal incidents during a by-election in Johannesburg. In the first incident, a vehicle belonging to the Electoral Commission was hijacked but recovered soon not far from where the special votes were conducted. In the second incident, Electoral Commission staff were mugged. Both incidents are being investigated by the South African Police Service. The Commission confirms that voting was not affected and voting materials were not seized during both incidents.”

She added: “As it manages by-elections on a monthly basis and prepares for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, the Commission will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to curb criminal activity.”

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters in Gauteng have called upon JMPD and SAPS to clamp down on these criminal activities to ensure that elections are indeed free and fair.

“Incidents such as these bear evidence of the fact that socioeconomic struggles directly affect the democratic values enshrined in our constitution. Government failures to resolve the questions of poverty, unemployment and inequality have the potential to undermine even the democratic agenda which is part of our core constitutional principles,” said EFF Gauteng Provincial Communications Officer, Dumisani Baleni.