Pietermaritzburg IEC official accused of contravening Electoral Act officially charged

DURBAN - A Pietermaritzburg Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) official accused of contravening the Electoral Act has officially been charged.

It's alleged that Musawenkosi Mnikathi illegally transported voting material on voting day.

He was charged in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court on Thursday, with the court dismissing an application by his lawyers to have the matter heard by the Electoral Court instead.

Mnikathi will now face a criminal trial.

The Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the matter of the IEC official.

Mnikathi was an area manager for the IEC in the Imbali area of Pietermaritzburg during the national and provincial elections in May.

He is accused of unlawfully transporting four ballot boxes in his vehicle.

“The accused appeared on a charge of contravening the Electoral Act. The matter has been remanded to the 2nd of July for a statement,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkissoon-Kara.

If prosecuted, Mnikathi could face a 10-year jail sentence.