Canaan Mdletshe

As heavily armed police and army casspirs patrolled the areas of Nongoma and Ulundi in northern KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, voters turned up in large numbers to cast their votes.

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi cast his vote along with his wife Irene at the Mahlabathini tribal court.

Asked about the arrest of a presiding officer with 100 marked ballot papers supporting his party, Buthelezi said: "If we find the person responsible is an IFP member we will take action against them."

The presiding officer, who allegedly stuffed a ballot box with ballot papers marked in favour of the IFP, has been charged with electoral fraud.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for safety Bheki Cele, who is stationed in Ulundi, confirmed this.

Voting came to a standstill at B South polling station when party agents were shocked to find that ballot papers had been marked before voting could start.

Police director Phindile Radebe said ballot boxes and papers were ferried from Ekhombe to Nkandla on Tuesday night. But when they arrived at Nkandla at 8pm, two ballot boxes were missing.

Buthelezi also said he had been served a summons by KZN Premier Sbu Ndebele for allegedly accusing him (Ndebele) of printing ballot papers.

"I did not accuse Ndebele, but said the ballot papers were printed in Pietermaritzburg."