IEC Presiding Officer Dies At Mahikeng Voting Station As Special Voting Begins

The start of South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections special voting period has been overshadowed by the death of an Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) presiding officer in Mahikeng.

The official reportedly collapsed at a voting station on Monday, November 2, the first of two days set aside for approved special voters to cast their ballots ahead of the main election.

IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Shiburi confirmed the death during a media briefing, expressing the commission’s sadness over the loss. He also disclosed that another election official had been injured in a road accident in KwaZulu-Natal.

The second incident involved a deputy presiding officer in the uKhahlamba district, who was taken to hospital after the motor vehicle accident. The IEC said it was providing support to the affected officials and the family of the deceased colleague.

Despite the incidents, Shiburi reported that special voting had begun positively in most parts of the country. According to his briefing, 94 per cent of voting stations opened with their staff and required election materials, including ballot papers, in place.

However, the process encountered difficulties in Cape Town. Shiburi said 10 of the city’s 116 wards had voting stations that were yet to open by 10:30am. The commission was working to get the affected stations operational so that voters whose special-vote applications had been approved could participate.

He said the majority of voters were being assisted smoothly, with improvements linked to measures introduced by the IEC to make the process more efficient.

Among the changes are handheld scanners connected to Voter Management Devices, improved device applications and sequence numbers on the voters’ roll to help officials locate voters more quickly.

Special voting is scheduled for November 2 and 3, while the main local government election is set for Wednesday, November 4. The early voting arrangement caters for eligible voters who cannot attend on election day because of physical conditions or other approved circumstances.

Shiburi said the commission hoped to improve operations in Cape Town during the afternoon and deliver a better performance on Tuesday, the final day of special voting.

The IEC’s immediate responsibilities now include supporting the affected families and officials while ensuring that approved voters can exercise their rights before Wednesday’s main poll.

Source: https://x.com/iol/status/2117222182551982091?s=46

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