Douglas voters must vote again after ballots were destroyed
The IEC has ordered a revote at the Jabulani Community Hall voting district in Ward 3 of Siyancuma, Douglas, after ballots were destroyed before counting. No date is set yet.
Voters at one voting station in Douglas, Northern Cape, will have to vote again. The IEC has ordered a revote in the Jabulani Community Hall voting district in Ward 3 of the Siyancuma Local Municipality, because the ballot papers cast there were destroyed before they could be counted. No date has been set yet. (SAnews)
What did the IEC decide?
IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya announced the revote on Sunday, 8 November, during the official declaration of the 2026 local government election results in Midrand. (SAnews)
"The Commission has determined that a revote must be organised in Ward 3, Siyancuma Municipality, for voting district Jabulani Community Hall. This is so because the ballot papers cast at that station were destroyed before the count," Moepya said, according to SAnews. He added that the IEC had also approached the Electoral Court and opened a criminal case with SAPS.
The IEC uses the name Jabulani Community Hall for the voting district. Some reports, including DFA and IOL, named the venue as Bongani Community Hall.
What happened at the voting station?
On Thursday, 5 November, supporters of a political party allegedly forced their way into the counting station and tore up ballot papers, IOL reported. The IEC's deputy chief executive for electoral operations, Masego Sheburi, said at least 1,300 ballots had been cast at the station, according to IOL. The IEC withheld that station's results. (eNCA)
When will the revote happen?
The IEC hasn't announced a date. Moepya said the commission would set the date and arrangements, and eNCA reported that the IEC said the revote would happen as soon as possible. (eNCA, IOL)
| What we know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where | Jabulani Community Hall voting district, Ward 3, Siyancuma Local Municipality (Douglas) |
| Who votes again | Voters in that voting district only, not the whole municipality |
| Why | Ballot papers were destroyed before counting |
| Date | Not announced yet |
| Who sets the date | The IEC |
What law allows a revote?
Moepya quoted Section 10 of the law that governs municipal elections, which says that if ballot papers at a voting station "are lost, destroyed, or unlawfully removed" before they are counted, the commission may allow a revote at that station "on a date to be determined by the commission". (eNCA)
Has anyone been charged?
Yes. Hawks Northern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe said six people were arrested at first, but one was released after investigators couldn't link him to the incident, IOL reported. The remaining five were expected to appear in the Douglas Magistrate's Court on Monday, 9 November.
According to the Hawks, they face charges that include contravening the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act, malicious damage to property, assault and intimidation. (IOL) They have not been convicted.
Does this change the national election result?
No. The IEC declared the 2026 local government elections free and fair, and said all 213 municipal councils had been finalised and declared. National turnout was 52%, up from 45.9% in 2021. (SAnews)
How will voters find out the date?
The IEC will announce the revote date and arrangements. Voters in the affected district should watch the IEC's official website and its official social media accounts.
FAQ
Why is there a revote in Douglas?
The IEC ordered a revote because the ballot papers cast at the Jabulani Community Hall voting district in Ward 3 of Siyancuma were destroyed before they could be counted.
When is the Douglas revote?
The IEC hasn't announced a date yet. It said it would set the date and arrangements.
Who has to vote again in Siyancuma?
Only voters in the Jabulani Community Hall voting district in Ward 3, not the whole municipality.
Has anyone been arrested over the Douglas ballot papers?
The Hawks said five people were expected in the Douglas Magistrate's Court on 9 November on charges including contravening the Municipal Electoral Act, malicious damage to property, assault and intimidation.