The Electoral Commission welcomes the conviction and sentencing, by the Umlazi Regional Court, in Durban of an electoral officer who abused her position and broke the law by stuffing 24 ballot papers into a ballot box ahead of the 1 November 2021 Local Government Elections.
Nomusa Precious Gabuza was charged, convicted and sentenced after she was caught out by the internal processes of the Commission to prevent voter fraud.
The offence committed by Gabuza was discovered and she was arrested on the morning of 1 November 2021, before voting started. The voting process proceeded without incidents.
The Commission lauds the partnership with political party agents, the police, the National Prosecution Authority which ensured that Gabuza was not only caught but served with justice eight months after the crime was committed.
The conviction and sentencing is a strong affirmation of the Commission’s systems which have now been strengthened with the introduction of the Voter Management Device, which makes double voting impossible. It also underscores the Commission’s commitment to timely intervention and consequence management.
Gabuza (37) was sentenced to three years of correctional supervision and four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years, after she pleaded guilty to Contravention of the Local Government Municipal Electoral Act 2000.
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Ensuring free and fair elections
For media queries: Please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
For media interviews: Please email requests to [email protected]
· To check that you’re registered for the elections, please log on to www.elections.org.za or send a text message to: 32810
· For information on elections, please send the text message “Hi” to: 0600 88 0000
· Follow us on social media:
Facebook:www.facebook.com/IECSouthAfrica
Twitter: @IECSouthAfrica
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IECSouthAfrica