Nhlanhla Mabaso 23 July 2024 | 17:22

Case of IEC official accused of stealing ballot papers postponed

Musawenkosi Mnikathi appeared briefly in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court today.

Case of IEC official accused of stealing ballot papers postponed

FILE: An electoral commission official verifies sealed ballot boxes at the Fordsburg Primary School polling station under the supervision of party delegates in Johannesburg on 1 November 2021. Picture: Emmanuel Croset/AFP

DURBAN - The case of an IEC official accused of stealing ballot boxes in KwaZulu-Natal during the general election has been postponed to August for the State’s response.

Musawenkosi Mnikathi appeared briefly in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He is charged with contravening the Electoral Act.

Mnikathi appeared in an empty courtroom, with only court officials and journalists on Tuesday morning.

Proceedings were very brief, with his lawyer informing the court it had submitted their consultations to the State.  

“What happened in court today was that representations were given to the senior public prosecutor; we are waiting for those outcomes," said the lawyer, Advocate Ashely Jennings.

The matter will be back in court, on 13 August for further proceedings.

The accused remains out on a warning.