11 suspects in Northern Cape ballot destruction case appear in court - IOL

Eleven suspects have been formally charged for storming a voting station in Douglas in the Northern Cape and allegedly damaging ballot papers.

The 11 suspects who were arrested for destroying ballot papers at a voting station in the Northern Cape appeared in the Douglas Magistrate’s Court. 

Dearie Morolong, 37, Abrich Niewenhuizen, 40, Zenobia Smit, 33, Velaphi Mokabe, 49, Romeo Wildt, 27, Tevern Katz, 32, Bennet Hendricks, 48, Godwin Leukes, 32, Douglas Njiji, 60, Jennifer Lovern, 28, Elmarie Jacob's, 32, face charges of contravening the Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2007, malicious damage to property, which include the ballots and damage to community hall. 

The group also faces charges of intimidation and assault. 

The group was arrested after they allegedly forced their way into the Bongani Community Hall in Douglas on Thursday, November 5, 2026. A day after the local government elections took place. 

At the time of the incident, ballots were being counted, and the group is alleged to have damaged ballots during their ransacking. 

At the time, the IEC's deputy chief executive officer for electoral operations, Masego Sheburi, confirmed the disruption and said members of a political party had laid siege to the venue and interfered with the counting process.

"Not only did they storm the counting station, but they laid siege to it, interfered, and tore at conservative estimates. At least 1,300 ballots were cast at that voting station," Sheburi said.

The Commission ordered the revote at Bongani Community Hall Voting District in Siyancuma in terms of Section 10 of the Local Government Municipal Electoral Act 2000 (Act), which authorises a revote where ballot papers are lost, destroyed or unlawfully removed before counting is completed.

The revote is intended to give the affected community a fair and equal opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote.