As the election season wraps up, and the IEC counts ballot papers, 20 people were arrested for crimes relating to the election.
According to entertainment publication ZiMoja, the Gauteng SAPS arrested people who violated the rules set by the IEC regarding the procedure of casting their vote. In the dos and don’ts of voting, things that are prohibited include taking a picture of their marked ballot paper that reveals what party they vote. By law, votes should always remain anonymous and fair.
The entertainment publication also reported that according to SABC News, the Gauteng SAPS commissioner General Tommy Mthombeni said, “Indeed, it was a little bit challenging ensuring that the communities are and feel safe but we were in a position to restore order. I can confirm that since our last update, the number of the cases reported has indeed gone up and currently we have 20 within the province.”
News publication, IOL, reported that the IEC posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) to urge voters not to publish any photographs of ballot papers, adding, “For instance, workers could be ordered to photograph their marked ballots in exchange for favours, or a party might demand such images in return for money or food parcels. To safeguard the integrity of our electoral process and ensure that every vote is free from undue influence, wait until you have left the voting station before sharing a selfie.”
Meanwhile, the commissioner General Tommy told ZiMoja that, “The purpose of this law is to maintain the secrecy of your vote and the privacy of others. It is crucial to understand this regulation in the context of its purpose to protect vulnerable voters from coercion.”
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