Stolen ballots, armed voter and arrests mark election day - IOL

The theft of ballot papers in KwaZulu-Natal, the removal of an armed voter in Cape Town and arrests following confrontations with police were among incidents reported during South Africa’s local government elections on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

The theft of ballot papers in KwaZulu-Natal, the removal of an armed voter from a Cape Town voting station and arrests following clashes with police were among incidents reported during yesterday's local government elections.

The Electoral Commission (IEC) said voting was proceeding well nationally, with 98% of the country's 23,696 voting stations open by 7am, despite delays caused by protests and heavy rain.

In eThekwini, the IEC confirmed that unused ballot papers and an official stamp had been stolen from Mnyameni Secondary School near Botha's Hill. The theft was discovered on Wednesday morning and reported to police.

KwaZulu-Natal police said a presiding officer had left sensitive election materials, including ballot papers, ink and a voters' roll, inside a guardhouse at the voting station on Tuesday evening.

When she returned on Wednesday morning, she discovered the materials missing.

Police opened a burglary case and said investigators would establish why the materials were delivered the previous evening without a police escort. The IEC said precautions had been taken to prevent the stolen ballots from being unlawfully used.

In Mitchells Plain, Western Cape provincial electoral officer Michael Hendrickse confirmed that police had removed a disruptive voter who was armed.

“A voter arrived in Mitchells Plain and for some reason he got upset and he was disruptive, in which case we had to ask (police) to assist us to remove that particular voter because he was armed at this stage,” Hendrickse said.

In nearby Hanover Park, four suspects, including two minors, were arrested after police came under attack near the civic centre voting station.

Police said officers intervened when two groups began throwing stones at each other. Members of one group allegedly turned on the officers, pelting them with stones and beer bottles.

One officer suffered a hand injury and fired three warning shots. Voting continued uninterrupted.

In KwaZulu-Natal, a man was arrested for allegedly assaulting police officers at a voting station in Umlazi's M Section. According to SAPS, he arrived drinking alcohol and appeared to be under the influence when officers attempted to control his behaviour.

A police sergeant was also precautionarily removed from election duty in Donnybrook after allegedly arriving at the Mphithini voting station in a vehicle displaying political party posters.

“We reminded our officers of their responsibilities and how they must conduct themselves,” acting provincial police commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba said.

Police were investigating whether any laws had been broken.

Three K9 officers sustained minor injuries when their vehicle struck two cattle while travelling to a voting station in the Ibisi area. Police said they had been discharged from hospital.

In the Eastern Cape, provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata confirmed officers were monitoring a protest in Dutywa, where residents blocked access to a voting station.

Heavy rain also disrupted voting in KwaZulu-Natal, where provincial electoral officer Ntombifuthi Masinga reported that two stations in Umzumbe remained inaccessible at the time of her briefing because roads had washed away.

Police and soldiers were assisting efforts to reach the affected stations.

The IEC said more than 3.5 million voters had cast their ballots nationally by 10am and appealed for patience where delays occurred.