The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it is taking legal steps against individuals and political parties over intimidation and damage to election material, while the Presidency has condemned what it called rising political killings around the local government elections.

What the IEC said

In a statement on Tuesday 3 November, IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said the commission had noted "a sharp increase in actions of prohibited conduct and glaring criminal behaviour by some political party supporters and candidates", ranging from intimidation of election officials to disruption of voting and tampering with election materials.

The IEC described two incidents:

  • In Mpumalanga, a candidate for the Economic Freedom Fighters in Ward 30 at the Phake Rankaile Voting District allegedly stormed a voting station and damaged election materials. The IEC said the candidate was arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
  • In KwaZulu-Natal, supporters of the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party allegedly stormed the Dasenhoek Library satellite warehouse, where election materials are kept, and held election officials hostage, the IEC said. Public Order Police were called in, and the group left peacefully after engagement with SAPS.

Mamabolo said the conduct "cannot be justified nor be allowed to impair the country's democratic processes", and that the commission is taking the necessary legal steps to hold the identified individuals and parties to account. He appealed to all parties and candidates to adhere to the code of conduct until the end of the election process.

Presidency condemns political killings

On Thursday, a press review reported that Phindile Baleni, Director-General in the Presidency, condemned the killings and warned that those responsible would be dealt with by the police.

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) has reported 20 murders involving political representatives, party members and supporters, with seven arrests. That follows the police briefing we reported earlier this week, in which police also gave a count of election-related criminal cases.

What we do not yet know

  • Whether the EFF or the MK Party has responded to the IEC's account of the two incidents.
  • What charges, if any, have been laid, and when the people arrested are due in court.
  • What legal steps the IEC will take, and against whom.
  • Whether the Natjoints figures have changed since they were last released.