KwaZulu-Natal – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has encouraged voters to keep the precedent they have kept in past elections of voting early.
IEC Electoral Manager in KZN, Mawethu Mosery says voters should bear in mind that it is easier to manage all possible circumstances in daylight, particularly in the one voting station that will be open for a limited time in Nkovukeni under Kwamhlab’uyalinga municipality.
“The place is almost offshore. There’s about 239 voters expected in that venue. And we have to cross through a lake to get to that station. We are assisted by SAPS Special Unit to cross to this particular venue. The unfortunate part is that there is nature in this area such as hippos so we have to cross through and return from that venue during the day. This is why we will operate there from 9a.m. to until 14h00. We will still do the counting at the voting station, and return to mainland by 17h00. This is the only voting station in the province with such an arrangement,” says Mosery.
There are 4,888 voting stations set up across the KZN province. The IEC staff number in this province stands at over 60, 000.
Mosery says voters must ensure they are well organized and ready to vote when they get to the voting stations. He has reminded voters to bring their ID documents which will be accessible from the department of Home Affairs throughout voting day for those who may still not have their IDs.
“Bring either be your smart card or green bar-coded ID or your temporary ID certificate. Home Affairs will be operating similar hours to ours so that those who have lost their IDs or have not collected them can collect them. Voters must also ensure that their ballot paper is stamped at the back because a ballot paper without the authentic stamp is an invalid ballot. They can also wear anything; they can wear party t-shirts that identify them politically, there are no restrictions.” (Edited by Philile Masango)