Voting across the country has started as South Africans queue for the Local Government Elections, however, a few hiccups have been experienced in some areas.
GAUTENG
No ballot boxes in Elardus Park
The Elardus Park Laerskool voting station in Pretoria has not yet received ballot boxes and their voting register.
Voting was supposed to start at 7 am on Monday, but only got underway an hour later.
IEC officials used an alternative system to register voters at the moment.
Congress of the People (COPE) Spokesperson, Dennis Bloem was in the queue with a number of other voters since 06:30am
“The voting station opened at 8 am. They are saying they are waiting for ballot boxes and the register. Now they are using another system called VMD to register. We were told by the presiding officer that they forgot the ballot boxes and register. Up until now, it’s not here.”
Sandton: No stationary
Voters that have been queuing at the Parkmore Field and Study Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg, say the start to voting in the Local Government Election has been a disaster.
The voting station which has already seen throngs of queues has not yet opened as IEC officials are without stationary.
This Johannesburg voter has been in the queue since early this morning.
“We are trying to vote at the Field and Study Centre. The IEC won’t open the voting booths because they don’t have any stationary. Stationary like pens. We watched the area manager come through in the morning to bring a few things. The queue is very, very long here but there is absolutely no movement. All we are doing is watching the bunnies at the Field and Study Centre. It seems like an absolute disaster.”
Voting is also underway in Soweto
KWAZULU-NATAL
Fire at a voting
KwaZulu-Natal police have confirmed that they are investigating the cause of the fire at a voting station at Kwanyavu in Mkhambathini municipality under the Umgungundlovu district in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo says the voting station was allegedly petrol-bombed overnight.
More than 18 000 law enforcement officers will be deployed in KwaZulu-Natal for the Local Government Elections.
Police Minister Bheki Cele says areas such as eThekwini and Plessislaer in KwaZulu-Natal have been identified as hotspots of politically motivated killings that will require additional police deployment during the Local Government Elections.
MPUMALANGA
Security beefed
Voters around Mbombela and surrounding areas in Mpumalanga are slowly trickling into polling stations to cast their votes.
In the urban areas, some people, particularly elders, arrived as early as 5 am.
In the townships, some people are going by their daily activities hoping to vote as the day goes by.
Most of the polling stations opened on time. Security has been beefed and the ballot boxes were transported by law enforcement.
Some of the voters say they have been voting since 1994. They have different reasons for voting.
“I really need someone who is an honest leader, who is going to do the job that he has been voting for, so that’s why I always for vote for people who seem honest, it’s too much corruption go to Barberton as there are too many potholes, they are not doing anything for us. We had a budget here, since Mbombela took over, nothing is happening here, for the future of our children, for the future of this country and strengthened democracy,” says one voter.
Voting underway in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga:
LIMPOPO
Bela Bela: Opening voting station was delayed
Voting has started at Extension 8 in ward 4, in the Bela Bela Local Municipality in Limpopo where the opening of the voting station was delayed due to the unavailability of scanners.
Some voters who have cast their votes at the station have expressed their satisfaction with the process.
“I’m very, very excited about the opening of the voting station I hope most of the people will come during the day vote is very important because the more you vote is then you get the changes in our local municipality.”
Voting in Vuwani:
NORTHERN CAPE
Voters with disabilities in Kimberley feel left out
Voters living with disabilities in Kimberley in the Northern Cape say they seem to be forgotten.
Fabia Pico who went to cast her ballot at a voting station in Kimberley say they would like to see universal inclusivity.
She says job creation for those living with disabilities must be prioritised.
She says the rights of people living with disabilities like herself must be observed in all spheres of life.
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