Election Day: IEC reports EIGHT troubling incidents amid SA voting

As of midday on Monday 1 November, a total of 3.5 million people had cast their vote for the Municipal Elections. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) reported that, in general, voting is progressing well across the country, however, there were a few hiccups too. It said that with an event of this magnitude involving over 20 000 service points, there are bound to be a few incidents of concern. 

EIGHT INCIDENTS REPORTED ON ELECTION DAY 

As of Monday, early afternoon, the IEC had the following incidents to report:

• In  KwaZulu -Natal,  20  voting  stations  did  not  open  on  time  due to community  protests, in  Camperdown  and  Mdlothi. However, the  stations  have since opened in cooperation with the security service;

• A presiding officer in the eThekwini Metro was arrested after allegedly stuffing marked ballots into a ballot box. The matter is now in the  hands  of  the  South  African Police Service (SAPS). “This  incident,  which  did  not  affect voting,  is  a  testament to  the  in-built  safeguards  in  the  voting  process  that also include an active role for party and independent candidate agents,” the IEC said. 

• In the Eastern Cape, 19 voting stations did not open because of community protests.  In  all  incidents,  communities  dug  trenches  to  deny  Commission staff  and  voters  access  to  the  voting  stations.  The  Commission,  with the assistance of municipalities, was able fill the trenches and anticipates that the voting stations will be open later on Monday;

• In Limpopo, hailstorm delayed the opening of voting stations in Giyani; 

• While  there  was  no  load  shedding,  disruptions  in  power  supply  disrupted voting in some parts of Limpopo and the Northern Cape;

• In Modimolle, also in Limpopo, an accredited observer was asked to leave a voting station for wearing a political party t-shirt. A process to withdraw the observer’s accreditation has started;

• In Moretele in the North West, a member of a political party was arrested after he interrupted the voting process. In Taung, also in the North West, the Commission has laid charges against a presiding officer after he opened a ballot box that had been sealed; and 

• The Electoral Commission regrets the arrest of a Newzroom Afrika journalist at a  voting  station  in  Soweto.  After  intervention  of  the  Commission  the journalist has been released and an investigation into the circumstances of his arrest will be instituted.

Another IEC briefing will be held at 16:00 on Monday to update the public on any other developments. 

SA PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO VOTE 

The IEC has commended  South  Africans for coming out,  as they continue to,  in their numbers to vote on election day. 

“Many voting stations have reported strong turnout from early in the day with many voters already waiting to vote before the 7:00  opening,” the IEC said. 

“We continue to urge registered voters to make their way to voting stations. In general, voting is progressing well across the country. The logistical arrangements, as well as the voter management devices, are holding well, on the whole,” it added.  

Deputy President, David Mabuza, said people fought for this day and for this democracy. He went on to say that it is up to this generation to make South Africa a better place. 

“I’m encouraging you to vote, it’s a very important undertaking that you must make for the sake of your own country,” he said.