The suspects aged between 17 and 41 years were arrested in Mmadinonyane village near Ganyesa for torching a vehicle belonging to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)’s Area Manager. According to information available at this stage, reports suggest that the Area Manager and another official were driving separately in their vehicles, of which one was loaded with IEC voting material.  They were allegedly stopped by members of the community who robbed the pair of their cell phones before setting the two vehicles alight, both of which were damaged as a result. The incident led to damage to the voting material that was loaded in one of the vehicles. A police vehicle that was escorting the two vehicles was allegedly pelted with stones.  

Subsequent to investigations launched after the incident, 10 female and 11 male suspects were arrested and are expected to appear in the Ganyesa Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 9 May 2019 on charges of Contravention of Section 87(1)(e)(i)(vi) of the Electoral Act, 1998 (Act No.73 of 1998), malicious damage to property and robbery.

-The VIP Team

–PROVJOINTS