Fake IEC officials arrested at police station. How to spot one before you vote
Police arrested two women in Ngcobo who allegedly posed as IEC officials to collect voting material, plus two election arrests in Limpopo. Here is what happened and how to report election crimes.
Two women were arrested in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape after police say they posed as IEC officials and collected voting material from the local police station, The Citizen reports.
It is the clearest warning yet before Wednesday's local government elections: police say anyone who interferes with voting will be arrested.
What happened at Ngcobo police station?
At about 4.30am on 2 November, the first day of special votes, the two women arrived at Ngcobo Police Station and collected voting material, saying the presiding officer had sent them, according to police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana (The Citizen).
The real presiding officer was already standing in the queue and had sent nobody. Police identified the pair before they left and took the material back. The suspects, aged 57 and 61, were arrested and a case of impersonating an IEC official was opened under Act 27 of 2000, section 68(d), Gantana said (The Citizen). Act 27 of 2000 is the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act.
Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata said anyone who impersonates an IEC official "will face the full might of the law" (The Citizen).
What other election arrests have police made?
| Where | What police say happened |
|---|---|
| Ngcobo, Eastern Cape | Two women allegedly posed as IEC officials and collected voting material |
| Mankweng, Limpopo | One suspect allegedly tore down official election posters, reportedly caught on video |
| Sekhukhune, Limpopo | One suspect arrested after a complainant's party T-shirt was allegedly forcibly removed and set alight |
Source: police statements reported by The Citizen.
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers said police would not tolerate intimidation, violence or the destruction of election material (The Citizen). All of these are allegations; none of the suspects has been convicted.
How do you know an IEC official is real?
Voting material is handled by the presiding officer and staff appointed by the Electoral Commission at each voting station. If someone claims to be from the IEC and asks for your ID, your details or money, or turns up at your home outside the official special vote home visits, don't hand anything over. Check with the IEC directly through its official website or contact centre before acting.
Where do you report election crimes?
- Call SAPS on 10111, or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 for anonymous tips (SAPS).
- Report problems at your voting station to the presiding officer.
- Report fake election claims online to Real411, which the IEC uses for misinformation complaints.
Voting stations open at 7am on Wednesday, 4 November (IEC).
FAQ
Who was arrested for impersonating IEC officials?
Police arrested two women, aged 57 and 61, at Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape on 2 November 2026 after they allegedly collected voting material while claiming the presiding officer sent them.
What law covers impersonating an IEC official?
Police said the case was opened under section 68(d) of Act 27 of 2000, the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act.
How do I report an election crime?
Call SAPS on 10111 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111, tell the presiding officer at your voting station, and report fake election claims to Real411.