Ten people have appeared in the Douglas District Court in the Northern Cape on charges relating to the alleged damage and destruction of election material and the obstruction of Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) officials during the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The ten are charged with contravening sections 71(1) and 73(2) of the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2000. The charges relate to an incident at the voting district of Jabulani Community Hall, Ward 3 of the Siyancuma Local Municipality.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the accused are alleged to have entered a voting station unlawfully after it had been declared closed, while preparations for counting votes were under way or while counting was in progress. The NPA said they were not authorised to be inside the station because they were not accredited party agents.

Ballot boxes and papers allegedly damaged

The NPA said the accused allegedly damaged ballot boxes, ballot booths, ballot papers, tables and chairs inside the voting station. The charges also cover allegedly hindering or obstructing IEC officials in the exercise of their powers and the performance of their duties.

The IEC has since ordered a revote at the voting station where the incident occurred. The commission said the ballot papers cast at that station were destroyed before they could be counted, and it acted under section 10 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, which provides for a revote where ballot papers are lost, destroyed or unlawfully removed before counting.

The commission also said it had approached the Electoral Court and registered a criminal case with the South African Police Service.

Bail proceedings under way

The ten accused appeared in court for the start of bail proceedings, which were not completed. They were expected to reappear in court on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.

One of the accused is also facing a separate charge of contravening section 73(2) of the same Act in connection with an alleged incident at another voting station, registered under a separate police case number.

The NPA said it took allegations of interference with electoral processes seriously. "The integrity of elections and the ability of electoral officials to perform their duties without unlawful interference are fundamental to our constitutional democracy," it said, adding that those accused of undermining the lawful administration of elections must be dealt with in accordance with the law, while their right to a fair trial remains protected.

The IEC declared the 2026 Local Government Elections free and fair when it announced the results on Sunday, 8 November, while ordering the revote in Douglas. The result for the affected voting district will be decided by the fresh vote.