On Saturday, the police announced that they had initiated an investigation into a burglary at the IEC offices in Houghton, Johannesburg.
Break-in at Joburg IEC offices
The police report indicates the perpetrators entered the premises through the front door.
It’s unclear what items were stolen as the computers remain in the office.
However, investigators noted that all drawers were left open, and papers were scattered across the floor.
Thabo Masemola, the IEC’s Gauteng Provincial Electoral Officer, also found the office door broken.
According to Sunday World, all the drawers were open, and papers were scattered across the floor. Furthermore, the office door belonging to Thabo Masemola, the IEC’s Gauteng Provincial Electoral Officer, was discovered to be broken.
The premises have 24-hour security, yet the police and the IEC are perplexed by the incident and how it transpired.
The IEC has been grappling with various legal challenges concerning next month’s forthcoming national and provincial elections.
Notably, the commission has sought intervention from the Constitutional Court to contest the Electoral Court’s decision permitting former President Jacob Zuma to stand as a candidate for his newly established uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK Party).
Jacob Zuma’s candidacy has been a contention after the IEC’s decision to disqualify him due to a criminal record stemming from his 2021 imprisonment for contempt of court.
The 2024 elections are witnessing intense competition, marking the most fiercely contested since South Africa’s inaugural democratic elections in 1994.
Three decades later, the ruling party is embroiled in many internal challenges, notably revolving around the former president.
He maintains his affiliation with the party despite the ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s assertion that Zuma is no longer an ANC member.
Investigation launched: Police delve into break-in at IEC provincial offices in Houghton
According to Sowetan Live, authorities are probing a burglary at the IEC provincial offices in Houghton following a reported break-in on Saturday evening.
Brigadier Brenda Muridili, a police spokesperson, stated that a laptop was reported stolen during the incident.
“I can confirm that there was a business burglary reported by an IEC employee at the Houghton premises,” she said.
“The break-in was discovered at about 5.45pm, so far only a laptop belonging to an administration employee has been reported stolen,” she said.
The burglary’s circumstances remain unclear, including how it occurred and the specific contents stored on the stolen laptop.
Experts also anticipate a significant loss of votes for the ruling party, with many voters becoming disillusioned with the ANC and its challenges, particularly corruption.
The party’s latest high-ranking member, former parliament speaker Nosiviwe Maphisa-Nqakula, resigned following allegations of corruption during her tenure as Minister of Defence. She is currently out on bail of R50 000.
The break-in at the IEC offices may also be connected to the broader issue of crime in the country, which has become a significant concern for voters.
As of now, no additional information regarding the incident at the IEC offices has been made available.
Sy Mamabolo, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) spokesperson, has declared that the national voters’ roll has exceeded the 27 million mark for the first time in history.
Mamabolo detailed the Electoral Commission’s preparations for the forthcoming voter registration weekend during a Wednesday press conference held in Centurion, Pretoria.
The IEC is set to organise the second national voter registration weekend, slated for February 3rd and 4th.
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