Some voters unhappy with new voting station in Minnebron

Registered voters in Minnebron and Sunair Park who would typically vote at Thandimfundo School got a surprise today (November 4) when they got to the voting station and were told they were at the wrong location and should be at Apollo Educare Pre-Primary and Aftercare down the road.

At Thandimfundo things went smoothly for voters, with covered seats for those waiting to vote, ample parking, EMPD and SAPS officers directing traffic, and friendly IEC officials.

Voney Coertzen, who voted at Thandimfundo, has been voting for 19 years. She voted for a smaller party this year, because there was a power outage where she lives in Sunair Park two weeks ago and she felt this small party did more than the councillor and political party currently in power in the ward.

“I expect honesty, transparency and help for the average person from my councillor. I want them to fight for or at least understand what’s right, and I’m voting in the hope that we get this from our council for our children,” she said.

She calls it more of a personal complaint, but she hopes to see speed humps installed in her area, especially around a new development near her home where traffic will increase greatly.

She also hopes that the influx in traffic, especially vehicles parking at the entrance to visit, pick up or drop off residents, will see more regulation by officials, spurred on by the new councillor.

“A big thing, however, is the street lights, especially on the bridge. It’s pitch black at night, and it’s not safe,” she explained.

Sakhile Sithole from Sunair Park also voted at Thandimfundo, and it was his fourth time voting in an election. He voted for a small party as well, saying that the big parties are all the same and make promises they never keep.

“I expect the councillor to intervene, update the ward, communicate action plans and escalate issues in service delivery to the relevant parties,” he said.

According to Sithole, actual service delivery has nothing to do with the councillor as it’s the responsibility of the local municipality, not council, but they can still help things along and should.

Elderly residents Marie and Tjaart Kruger have voted in every election since they were eligible to vote.

Marie voted for a small party, while Tjaart voted for a larger one, both in the hope that whoever comes into power will form part of the system that will get the town and country in order.

“We want them to please take care of the crime and farm murders. We want to see more safety,” Marie said.

At Apollo, two parties erected gazebos to assist voters and register party members. The ward councillor candidate stationed at one explained that it was a difficult morning at this station.

One voter was allegedly sent to Apollo from Thandimfundo, only to get at Apollo and be told that they are at the wrong station and to go back to Thandimfundo, at which point the voter reportedly gave up and decided not to vote.

A man who wished to remain unnamed arrived and complained that he was registered at Apollo, had confirmed his voting station information ahead of time, but upon arriving at the station was told he was actually registered at Laerskool Dalview voting station.

In between checking his information after registering at the new station and today’s voting, his location was changed without his knowledge.

On top of these grievances, the Apollo voting station reportedly did not provide bathroom facilities, causing voters, their children and officials to use the field across the road to relieve themselves.

To make things easier, however, a stall with eats and drinks, was available.

For some, the day turned out to be a great business venture. Victoria Ryan, who works at a Vulcania take-away business, sold ice-cold bottled water to voters.

She had voted elsewhere, sold out, secured more stock and was close to selling out again at around 13:00.