20 KZN voters probed for alleged double voting
The Independent Electoral Commission in KwaZulu-Natal says twenty people are being investigated for allegedly voting twice yesterday.
Officials say two people were arrested in Hluhluwe and another 17 in Dannhauser.
One case is also being probed in Port Shepstone.
Acting provincial officer, Ntombifuthi Masinga says they were able to trace the suspects through the affidavits they had to fill in, in order to vote where they were not registered.
"First, they went to the voting stations where they were registered and they voted, they were scanned and marked off the voters' roll.
Masinga says the suspect then proceeded to another voting station after experimenting on whether the ink works or not.
"They were scanned again. They then completed a Section 24 form used in voting stations. So there's no single person that would have done that because ultimately, we wouldn't know who they are," Masinga said.
Earlier IEC CEO, Sy Mamabolo said they'd ordered an urgent audit into the double voting.
"The purpose of the audit is to check the extent of the phenomenon. That has to be determined through a scientific process," Mamabolo said.
It comes after voters complained that the indelible ink used to mark voters could be easily removed.
Mamabolo says they're also investigating the effectiveness of the ink.
"The Electoral Commission has also ordered an investigation - into the effectiveness of the indelible ink marker pens supplied for the election. The investigation will be done in conjunction with the CSIR - and with full co-operation and support of the supplier."
