Mbombela (Nelspruit) – An altercation during voter registration between political party agents in Lebogang Township turned violent leaving a female agent nursing stab wounds.
A 34-year-old male political party agent has been arrested in connection with the stabbing that occurred at Extension 10 of Lebogang Township, near Leslie, outside Secunda in Mpumalanga on Sunday, (4 January 2024).
The suspect will appear in the Leslie Periodical Court on Wednesday, (7 January 2024), after being charged with attempted murder.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said the motive for the horrific attack was still being investigated.
“It is alleged that the two individuals identified as party agents were somehow involved in a heated argument then the situation turned violent and it was during this time when the suspect allegedly attacked the woman,” Colonel Mdhluli said.
“The said incident reportedly took place during the voter registration period.
“Details of the incident, which is still under police investigation, indicate that after the victim was stabbed, she was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment whilst a case of attempted murder was opened.”
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (IEC) reports that the Voter Registration Weekend ahead of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, went well.
The IEC said the two registration weekends have given the country a growth of 1,2 million on the voters’ roll.
Following these two registration drives the voters’ roll now stands at 27.4 million.
On Monday, the Department of Home Affairs said it assisted more than 33 500 people in its offices and 105 mobile units that were deployed in the first two days of the service delivery blitz during the Voter Registration Weekend.
The majority of the people, that is more than 25 700, visited the offices on Saturday, (3 February 2024).
Nearly 7 900 visited during the two additional operating hours from 16:00 to 18:00 on Friday, (2 February 2024).
“This public response is galvanising us to do more as we prepare to welcome those people who want to visit our offices today. We are open from 08:00 until 17:00,” said Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza.
