Limpopo’s 20 election arrests include cases over ballot photos
POLOKWANE — Allegations of photographing marked ballots and sharing them on social media form part of the election-related cases behind 20 arrests in Limpopo. Police say approximately 33 cases have been registered since special voting began on Monday, with some suspects already appearing before magistrates’ courts.
The reported offences include contraventions of electoral legislation, fraud, common assault, malicious damage to property and pointing a firearm. The provincial update does not specify how many arrests relate to each offence, and the allegations have not been established through convictions in the information released.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said some cases involved individuals allegedly using cellphones to photograph their completed ballots before circulating the images online. He said the conduct was prohibited and undermined the secrecy of voting. Readers seeking further context can read TownPress’s explainer, Why the IEC bars photos of a voter’s own marked ballot.
One separately reported incident occurred at Masakhane voting station in Ga-Willy village during special voting. Police said a 32-year-old man allegedly photographed his marked ballot and posted it on WhatsApp. According to the police account, the presiding officer reported the matter, leading to the man’s arrest. That case remains an allegation subject to court proceedings.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers welcomed the arrests and said police would act against unlawful conduct regardless of a suspect’s position or political affiliation. He also commended cooperation between officers, other law enforcement agencies and election stakeholders.
Nationally, NATJOINTS said there had been no widespread disruption compromising the electoral process, despite isolated incidents requiring police intervention. Its Thursday briefing reported 32 arrests during special voting and another 27 on the main voting day. Those figures were issued separately from Limpopo’s provincial update and should not be added together as distinct totals.
Some Limpopo matters have now moved into the courts, while police continue investigating the reported incidents. The provincial announcement did not provide the outcomes of the court appearances.
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