Since yesterday, there’ve been reports of disruptions to the special voting process in various parts of the country. Some South Africans who had applied for Special Voting started voting yesterday and continued to do so throughout today.
However, some disruptions have been reported at some voting stations.
In Limpopo, police arrested two people in Giyani yesterday; on charges of contravening the electoral act. The knife-wielding duo allegedly attacked officials from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and forcefully removed ballot boxes that were in the care of the officials in a village in Giyani.
Earlier today in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga province police were deployed to the area after residents blocked access to three voting stations. The residents protested by digging trenches on roads leading to their village. As a result, two voting stations failed to open. Residents are demanding proper roads and other basic services.
In the Northwest, two vehicles belonging to the IEC were violently attacked; one was burned down and another stoned.
In Ekurhuleni, in the Gauteng province, it is reported that one voting station failed to open.
Meanwhile there were problems at 47 stations in Eastern Cape, according to Mamabolo.
The IEC has confirmed the incidents. The IEC’s Sy Mamabolo adds that in the KwaZulu-Natal, some voting stations did not open on time today.
Special voting, which includes home visits for the elderly and disabled, is reserved for those who apply to vote ahead of the national voting day.