KZN IEC official accused of stealing voting material acquitted
DURBAN - The IEC official accused of stealing voting material in KwaZulu-Natal has been acquitted on all charges by the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court.
Musawenkosi Mnikathi was an area manager in Imbali during the 2024 general polls.
He faced charges linked to transporting voting ballots without police supervision.
The Umkhonto Wesizwe Party laid charges against him, accusing him of rigging the votes.
READ: Court to decide whether to criminally charge IEC official found in possession of ballot boxes
Although the court earlier this year said he had a case to answer, IEC official Musawenkosi Mnikathi is now a free man.
The court has found him not guilty of contravening some provisions of the Electoral Act.
IEC Chief Officer, Sy Mamabolo, welcomed the ruling.
"We think that they should have listened to the event organiser, which is the electoral commission, who have appointed these officers and given them the responsibility to move material,s because the absence to move materials - the electoral process would collapse at certain voting stations."
He adds that it was part of Mnikathi's role to supply voting material.
"It's sad that we've had to put an individual through such a solid experience; it should have never been the case."
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