Two arrested at Tzaneen IEC office over quarantined ballot box as Limpopo police probe election cases

Limpopo police have arrested two men after an alleged confrontation at the Independent Electoral Commission office in Tzaneen over a ballot box that was to be sealed and quarantined, and a third man in a separate case in Giyani.

The South African Police Service said in a statement issued by the office of the provincial commissioner in Limpopo that the two Tzaneen suspects, aged 34 and 46, were arrested over an alleged incident of intimidation on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 at about 21:00.

According to the complainant, an IEC Regional Area Manager, she was attending a virtual meeting when she was alerted to concerns raised by a group of people about a ballot box from the Tingitsi voting station. The group said the box allegedly had a hole in the middle and was suspected of possible tampering.

The complainant went to the office, where the group allegedly demanded that the ballot box be opened and counted in their presence. After consultations with the Provincial Electoral Manager, directives were issued for the ballot box to be sealed and placed under quarantine.

Police say that during the process the two suspects allegedly mobilised members of the group to disrupt the procedure and threatened and intimidated the complainant. Both face charges under the Electoral Act and are expected to appear before the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 6 November 2026.

In the separate Giyani incident, a 35-year-old man was arrested for allegedly contravening Regulation 38(1)(a) of the Electoral Act 73 of 1998 by taking a photograph of a marked ballot paper. He will appear before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court. Police did not give a date for that appearance.

SAPS said law enforcement agencies continue to monitor electoral-related incidents in the Tzaneen and Giyani policing areas under Mopani District.

The statement does not say what the group’s concerns about the ballot box established, and no finding on the condition of the box has been made public in the document. The allegations against the three men have not been tested in court.

Enquiries on the statement are directed to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. The full statement is published at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72238.