By: Natasha Archary

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says the ballot box that went missing in uMhlathuze, KwaZulu-Natal had been counted, reconciled and validated prior to disappearing.
Appealing to citizens in Ward 14 uMhlathuze to be on the lookout for the missing ballot box that was lost in transit from the voting station in Matamzana Dube School.
National General Manager of Operations at the IEC Granville Abrahams, said votes in the missing ballot box had already been counted, but that the IEC is required by law to store the ballots for 6-months after an election.
“The missing ballot box that we are trying to track is in Ward 14, uMhlathuze. We are obviously on our own initiative trying to trace this, but let me just assure you that it is inexcusable first and foremost and it’s not something that we planned for.
To find any election material laying around immaterial of whether it means anything, so even if it’s an IEC booklet, people immediately associate it with the elections being compromised.
I did emphasize that on this matter, those votes in the ballot box was already counted.
The votes were recorded on the results slip, so the value is the results slip at the end of the day. However, for sake of completeness it is important for us that we get the ballot box back so it can be placed into storage.
As far as negligence is concerned, we do not believe that is the case, but if indeed so then obviously we would need to investigate further.”
Abrahams reminded citizens that anyone found in possession of the missing ballots or ballot box is liable to criminal prosecution.
The Electoral Commission appeals to citizens in and around Ward 14 uMhlathuze, in KwaZulu-Natal, to be on the lookout for an IEC branded ballot box that went missing in transit from the voting station Matamzana Dube School in VD 43412767, KZN282, uMhlathuze, to the municipal… pic.twitter.com/lTA8FXpDaB
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 30, 2024
Also read: IEC apologises for issues with election results system



