South Africa’s Electoral Commission has ordered a fresh vote in a Northern Cape voting district after more than 100 cast ballot papers were destroyed during an attack on a counting centre…reports Africa Daily News Desk
South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) has ordered a revote at the Bongani Gemeenskapsaal Voting District in the Siyancuma Local Municipality of the Northern Cape after the storming of a counting centre and the destruction of more than 100 cast but uncounted ballot papers. The revote will take place on 18 November 2026, with special voting arrangements scheduled for the previous day.
In a statement issued on 10 November, the IEC said the decision had been taken under Section 10 of the Local Government Municipal Electoral Act 2000, which allows the Commission to order a revote when ballot papers are lost, destroyed or unlawfully removed before counting is completed.
The Commission said the revote was intended to give the affected community a fair and equal opportunity to exercise its democratic right to vote.
Special voting will be held on Tuesday, 17 November, from 8 am to 5 pm. Approved voters will be able to cast their ballots at the Bongani Gemeenskapsaal Community Hall voting station or through an approved home visit.
The main revote, designated as Election Day, will take place on Wednesday, 18 November, from 7 am to 9 pm. All registered voters on the affected voting district’s roll will be eligible to vote at the Bongani Community Hall voting station.
The revote will apply only to registered voters in the Bongani Gemeenskapsaal Voting District in Ward 3 of the Siyancuma Local Municipality. The IEC clarified that the arrangement would not extend to all voters in the municipality or to other voting districts within the ward.
Applications for special votes will remain open from 10 to 14 November. Eligible voters can apply online through the Commission’s website by completing the secure special vote application form.
Applications can also be submitted by SMS by sending an identity number to 32249 at a cost of R1 per message. However, this option is available only to voters applying to cast their ballots at a voting station.
Voters may alternatively visit their local IEC office and submit a completed MEC 35 special vote application form. The Commission said the forms must be delivered in person and would not be accepted by email. Another person may deliver the completed application on behalf of the voter.
The IEC said a targeted communication campaign was under way to ensure eligible voters were informed about the revote arrangements and timetable. Municipal Outreach Officers will engage directly with the affected community and provide information about the process.
The Commission urged registered voters in the affected district to take note of the dates, apply for special votes where eligible and participate in the revote on 18 November.
The IEC Contact Centre will assist voters on weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm. Voters can contact the centre on 0800 11 8000 for further information.
