#IMadeMyMark: Early-morning Kempton voters told scanners don’t work (video)
The queue stretched to the corner of Fiskaal and Veld streets, and only started moving at around 7.20am
Early-morning Kempton Park voters started queuing outside Laerskool Kruinsig on Fiskaal Street since 5am Wednesday morning, only to be told at around 7.20am that the scanners weren’t working.
When Express arrived at the voting station at 7am, the line of voters stretched to the corner of Fiskaal and Veld streets.
The eager residents hoped to make their mark at the ballot box on election day as soon as possible but were told by employees of the Electoral Commission that the glitch was a national problem.
“This is poor planning. The same thing happened during the previous election,” Glen Marais resident Henriëtte Danniels (62) told Express.
She arrived at the voting station at 5am. “It’s important to vote. If you don’t vote, you shouldn’t complain [about the state of the country.]
Close-by in the queue was fellow Glen Marais resident Amanda Oosthuizen (59), who took her place in the line at 5.45am.
“I came early so I could get this done. I think it’s important to vote because I also want my concerns heard in parliament.”
Finally, at around 7.30am, the issue was fixed and the waiting voters were allowed onto the school premises. Despite the long wait, many of them seemed in high spirit to cast their votes.
“I would ask the new president to address crime in the country,” said Danniels, while Oosthuizen would advise the head of state to get rid of criminals in the cabinet. “And young people must vote. With privileges come responsibilities,” she urged.
Voting stations opened at 7am this morning, and will close at 9pm tonight.
