Boxes of ballot papers were stolen from an unmarked vehicle yesterday; 200 papers have been recovered.

JOHANNESBURG - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed boxes of ballot papers have been stolen from a delivery vehicle in Dobsonville, Soweto.

The commission says the booklets, containing ballot papers, were meant to be used in two wards in the City of Johannesburg for next week's election.

They were stolen from an unmarked delivery car.

But it says the booklets each have serial numbers which will allow the commission to block them from being used or counted on Election Day.

Nearly 6,000 papers will have to be withdrawn and replaced before Wednesday.

The IEC's Masego Shiburi says, "Late last night, we lost a box with ballot papers. We have reported the matter to the police and they are investigating. Part of the investigation has resulted in the recovery of at least two ballot booklets which contain 200 ballot papers."