During this time of election campaigning, the Electoral Commission has warned against defacing and illegally removing election posters. IEC says it's a punishable offence and it should be reported to the police as posters are put up to allow free campaigning.

In the Western Cape, posters have been removed while others were destroyed. IEC electoral officer in the Western Cape, Michael Hendricks said: "Posters are part of campaigning during elections and that is why our legislation ensures that it's a criminal offence for any person to deface or unlawfully remove the poster of any political party during this period because I think also it just goes against the environment that's conducive to political campaigning. So, as the IEC we call on everybody, not only political parties, to leave the posters up where they belong."

Hendricks added that deliberately destroying posters is non-democratic. "In terms of our legislation, it's a criminal offence. If you see somebody doing something wrong like anything else, go and report it to the police. I think they are the ones that have the authority to investigate," Hendricks adds. IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo has said in the past that it destroying the posters goes against electoral democracy because parties print them at great costs. According to Mamabolo, if prosecuted, a person can serve five to ten years in jail. If a party is involved in defacing the posters of their opposition, it constitutes breaking the Electoral Code and such a party can be prosecuted through the Electoral Court. Registered voters will cast their votes in the national and provincial election next month.