Many turn up to vote

Many residents in the area turned up to vote in the national and provincial elections this week.

Monday morning’s special voting started several hours late after material failed to arrive at the voting stations in time.

“I wanted to go and vote at the Oberholzer Magistrate’s Court before work, but they turned me away,” a public official told the Herald.

Many other residents who had registered for special votes complained about the same issue and a shortage of envelopes that developed later that afternoon. Fortunately, however, there were no issues of violence.

The Constitutional Court recently ruled that former president Jacob Zuma was not allowed to stand as a candidate for the new uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK). Despite allegations on social media last week that MK planned to disrupt the elections, no such problems arose. One of its national leaders, former Merafong mayor and Cabinet minister Des van Rooyen, voted without problems at Ward 9 in Khutsong on Monday.

The municipality and IEC replied to questions about the problems during the first day of voting.
“Yes, the materials arrived late due to warehouse issues. The voting stations were open until 17:00, and officials attended to those in the queue at 17:00, given the morning delays,” said the IEC’s project coordinator in Merafong, Mr Quincy Sedisa.

He noted that special voting spanned two days, so voters could still come on Tuesday or the designated voting day on Wednesday, 29 May, as they are already on the voter’s roll.

“The municipality, through the Municipal Electoral Officer, apologises to the voters for the inconvenience. There will not be similar issues on Tuesday and Wednesday because the electoral office has received all materials, including materials for Wednesday. The main issues that Merafong experienced involved material, especially envelopes. Otherwise, everything went well,” he added.

Voting started without problems on Wednesday morning.