{
  "id": 18217511,
  "title": "EFF to open criminal case against IEC over vote irregularities in EC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/eff-to-open-criminal-case-against-iec-over-vote-irregularities-in-ec",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T00:35:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/1174816-2/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa has announced its intent to initiate a criminal case against the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) regarding irregularities in special votes. The party contends that a ballot box containing special votes was opened in the Nomandamba Voting District, located within the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality, without the presence of EFF agents. Additionally, the EFF alleges that several ballot papers were absent upon inspection of the ballot box.\n\nVeronica Mente, an EFF MP, disclosed that the matter was reported to the provincial IEC, which concluded that the incident indeed constituted fraud. In response, the counting process in the affected voting district has been temporarily halted, and all election materials have been isolated. Police are set to transport the ballot boxes to a central counting venue, where the proceedings will be conducted in the presence of representatives from various political parties.\n\nThe EFF intends to formally file the criminal complaint against the IEC on Thursday morning.",
  "summary": "EFF MP Veronica Mente says the matter was escalated to the provincial IEC",
  "key_points": [
    "EFF to file criminal case against IEC over irregularities.",
    "Special votes ballot box opened without EFF agents present.",
    "Ballot papers missing after inspection of the ballot box."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}