EFF to open criminal case against IEC over vote irregularities in EC

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Eastern Cape says it will open a criminal case against the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) over alleged irregularities involving special votes in the province. The party alleges that a ballot box containing special votes was opened without the presence of its agents in the Nomandamba Voting District, under the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality. It further claims that several ballot papers were missing when the box was inspected. EFF MP Veronica Mente says the matter was escalated to the provincial IEC, which investigated the allegations and agreed that the incident constituted fraud. Mente says counting in the affected voting district has been suspended, with all election materials quarantined. Police will escort the ballot boxes to a central counting venue, where the process will take place in the presence of representatives of political parties. The party says it will open a criminal case against the IEC on Thursday morning. LGE 2026 | EFF Eastern Cape to lodge complaint against IEC