KZN IEC Official Acquitted of Voting Material Theft Allegations
Durban – An Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) official who was accused of stealing voting material in KwaZulu-Natal has been acquitted of all charges by the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court.
Musawenkosi Mnikathi, who served as an area manager in Imbali during the 2024 general elections, faced allegations of transporting ballot papers without the mandated police escort. The charges were brought forward by the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party, which accused him of attempting to manipulate the voting process.
Earlier this year, the court ruled that Mnikathi had a case to answer. However, following the trial, he has now been found not guilty of violating provisions of the Electoral Act.
The ruling was welcomed by IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo, who defended the official’s actions as being consistent with his duties.
“We believe the court should have considered the authority of the Electoral Commission, which is responsible for appointing officials and assigning them the task of managing electoral materials,” Mamabolo stated. “Without the proper movement of voting material, the entire electoral process could face serious disruption at various voting stations.”
Mamabolo added that Mnikathi was simply carrying out his designated responsibilities and should not have been subjected to such scrutiny.
“It is regrettable that an individual had to endure such a distressing experience in the course of performing his duty. This situation should never have arisen,” he concluded.
Mnikathi’s acquittal brings closure to a case that had raised concerns about the integrity and security of the electoral process in the province. The IEC has reiterated its commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability throughout all stages of election management.
About The Author
