Woman arrested after alleged disruption at Limpopo voting station

A 33-year-old woman is expected to appear in the Lebowakgomo Magistrate's Court after an alleged electoral law violation at a voting station in Marulaneng, Limpopo.

A 33-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly contravening electoral legislation after a dispute over the recording of ballot-related activities disrupted proceedings at a voting station in Marulaneng, Ga-Chuene, Limpopo.

The suspect was arrested following an incident at the Baptist Church voting station on Tuesday, during the local government elections.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the woman was arrested for allegedly contravening Section 76 of the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act 27 of 2000.

According to Ledwaba, the incident unfolded when a deputy presiding officer received a telephone call from her area manager requesting the day's voting statistics.

"The complainant, who was serving as a Deputy Presiding Officer at the Baptist Church voting station during the Local Government Elections on Tuesday, received a telephone call from her Area Manager requesting the voting statistics for the day," Ledwaba said.

Ledwaba said the deputy presiding officer began counting envelopes containing ballot papers when a party agent allegedly started recording the process on a cellphone without her consent.

"She allegedly proceeded to count the envelopes containing ballot papers when one of the party agents started recording the process using a cellphone without her consent," Ledwaba said.

The situation allegedly escalated when the party agent showed the video to other party agents, prompting them to enter the voting station and disrupt the process.

"The party agent allegedly showed the recorded video to other party agents, who immediately entered the voting station and disrupted the process of providing statistical feedback to the area manager," Ledwaba said.

Police officers were subsequently called to the voting station, where they intervened to restore order and prevent further disruption.

Ledwaba confirmed that the 33-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the incident.

She is expected to appear before the Lebowakgomo Magistrate's Court on Thursday, November 5, 2026, facing a charge of contravening Section 76 of the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act.