In a significant development, an Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) official, Musawenkosi Mnikathi, has been formally charged with contravening the Electoral Act in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court. This comes after numerous allegations of electoral fraud have been exposed by the MK party, indicating widespread irregularities.
Mnikathi, who served as an area manager for the IEC in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg, during the May elections, is accused of illegally transporting four ballot boxes in his vehicle on voting day. His lawyers’ application to have the matter heard by the Electoral Court was dismissed, paving the way for a criminal trial.
The Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court has asserted its jurisdiction over the matter, and Mnikathi is scheduled to appear on July 2 for a statement. According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkissoon-Kara, if found guilty, Mnikathi faces a potential 10-year prison sentence.
This development follows a string of exposed rigging cases by the MK party, suggesting that multiple individuals may still face arrest and prosecution. As the investigation unfolds, the public eagerly awaits further developments in this significant case.
