KZN police investigate election security incidents as counting continues - IOL

Police in KwaZulu-Natal are investigating a series of security incidents during the 2026 Local Government Elections, including the theft of sensitive election material, power outages at three locations and alleged political interference by a police officer, as counting continues across the province.

The incidents come amid wider concerns about election-related violence and intimidation across the country, with 20 murders involving political representatives, party members and supporters recorded nationally during the election period.

KwaZulu-Natal accounted for six of the killings, while police had registered 139 election-related criminal cases nationally, with 48 arrests, according to figures released by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) ahead of election day.

South Africans went to the polls on Wednesday, November 4, following two days of special voting on November 2 and 3, to elect councillors to serve in municipalities across the country.

Briefing the media at the IEC Results Operations Centre at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) on Wednesday night, Acting KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Major-General Phumelele Makoba said the province had remained relatively stable despite incidents of political intolerance.

She said police had registered 18 criminal cases from the beginning of special voting to the closure of voting stations, with seven suspects arrested.

The cases included eight for contraventions of the Electoral Act, four intimidation cases, and cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, common assault, malicious damage to property, burglary and fraud.

One of the incidents under investigation is the burglary at Mnyameni High School in Hillcrest, where sensitive IEC material, including unmarked ballot papers, voters' rolls and election ink, was stolen.

Makoba said established procedures required ballot papers and other sensitive material to be transported to voting stations on election day under police escort.

No sensitive material was supposed to be stored at a voting station.

"These protocols were somehow breached, and we are working closely with the IEC to investigate the matter. We shall get into the bottom of this matter and responsible individuals will be arrested," she said.

The theft raised questions about compliance with security arrangements governing the handling and transportation of election material.

Police are also investigating power outages that affected KwaMakhutha, uMbumbulu and Isipingo on election day.

Makoba said the outages did not affect voting or the counting process, which was continuing without challenges at the time of her briefing.

She said Eskom had attended plenary and Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJOINTS) meetings, where assurances had been given that there would be no load shedding or load reduction across the province.

Investigations are under way to establish the cause of the outages.

"If the power outage was manmade with ill intentions, responsible individuals will be held accountable for their actions," Makoba said.

In another incident, a police sergeant was precautionarily removed from election operations after reports emerged that she had arrived at a voting station in a vehicle displaying posters of a political party.

Makoba described the conduct as unprofessional and said internal investigations were under way.

If misconduct was established, the officer could face disciplinary action and potentially criminal charges.

The incidents occurred as police and other law enforcement agencies maintained a substantial security deployment across KwaZulu-Natal to protect voters, IEC officials and election infrastructure.

A total of 5,029 voting stations were secured across the province's 11 districts. Of these, 165 were classified as high-risk, 1,014 as medium-risk and 3,550 as low-risk.

Makoba said the two days of special voting had provided an opportunity to identify and address operational challenges before the main voting day.

"Despite a few political intolerance incidents, the province remained relatively stable throughout the election period up to this point, and we shall keep our deployment at strategic points until the counting of votes has been concluded, and the results have been announced," she said.

Nationally, NATJOINTS had also reported 21 criminal case dockets during the special voting period, involving incidents including intimidation, theft and destruction of election material, with six arrests at the time of its November 3 briefing.

Police have warned political parties and their supporters against intimidation, violence and attempts to disrupt the electoral process.

Makoba said the safety of IEC officials, law enforcement officers and voters remained a priority as the country moved into the counting and results phase.

She urged political parties and independent candidates to accept the outcome of the elections and use prescribed channels to raise any dissatisfaction.

"Any dissatisfaction with either the electoral process or the outcomes of the voting must be expressed through prescribed channels, and not through public disorder or violent protests," she said.

Police will remain deployed at strategic points until counting is completed and results are announced, while monitoring the transition towards the establishment of councils across municipalities.