Ballot boxes linked to the African National Congress (ANC) Greater Johannesburg Regional Conference have been discovered at a residential property in Pretoria, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of the disputed conference.

The ballot boxes are believed to be connected to the controversial regional conference that resulted in the election of Loyiso Masuku as regional chairperson and the defeat of Dada Morero, who is currently the mayor of Johannesburg.

Secured the boxes

Officials from the ANC’s Office of the Secretary General, along with members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), were at the scene to secure the ballot boxes and assess the situation.

It remains unclear how the ballot materials ended up at a private residence, and whether they were tampered with.

The discovery comes amid ongoing tensions within the ANC in Gauteng, where the legitimacy of the Greater Johannesburg conference has been hotly contested by opposing factions.

‘Aware of the discovery’

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that he was aware of the discovery but said he would reserve comment until he had received a full report.

“I am awaiting a comprehensive report on the matter before making any comments,” Ramaphosa told SABC News.

The ANC has yet to issue an official statement outlining the next steps, while expectations are mounting that the incident could further delay the finalisation of leadership outcomes in the region or trigger disciplinary and legal processes.

Investigations are continuing, and further details are expected to emerge as authorities determine how the ballot boxes were removed from official custody and who may be responsible.