IEC fires 25 KZN election staff over alleged partisan conduct

KwaZulu-Natal Electoral Officer Ntombifuthi Masinga says 25 temporary election staff in KwaZulu-Natal were removed for alleged partisan conduct and other breaches during the 2026 local government elections, as objections to provisional results remain under consideration.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says 25 temporary election staff in KwaZulu-Natal were removed for alleged partisan conduct and other breaches during the 2026 local government elections, as objections to provisional results remain under consideration.

has terminated the employment of 25 people who were recruited to assist with the 2026 Local Government Elections in KwaZulu-Natal.

“We had to part ways with 25 electoral staff, whom we had to terminate on the spot for various reasons, including staff who openly demonstrated their partisan behaviour at voting stations and staff who flouted the election framework,” IEC Provincial Electoral Officer Ntombifuthi Masinga said.

Age confirmed the development during the official release of the Elections results at the International Convention Centre on Sunday, where she also reflected on the province's election administration, voter turnout and outstanding objections.

Masinga said KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 32% of the IEC's total election workforce.

She said the province faced several logistical challenges due to the complexity of administering elections across 921 wards, 43 local municipalities, one metropolitan municipality and 10 district municipalities.

KwaZulu-Natal recorded a voter turnout of 49%, slightly above the national average.

The province also recorded 1.45% spoiled ballot papers, below the internationally accepted threshold of 2%.

Masinga said the province accounted for 11% of all Section 55 objections lodged nationally.

She cautioned that the results announced remained preliminary because some objections had been submitted after the deadline and were still subject to the commission's consideration.

The IEC is expected to proclaim the final election results by November 11.