Few disturbances reported during the voting process

A case has been opened in Cunningmore in Calcutta after community members allegedly removed a full and empty ballot box from an IEC officials vehicle just before midnight on November 1.

A statement by provincial police spokesperson Brig Selvy Mohlala said two police members and two IEC officials (a presiding officer and deputy presiding officer) were transporting ballot boxes when they came across a large group of community members gathered in front of a gate which was closed at Cunningmore.

“Their vehicles were blocked and in the process the community members removed one full ballot box and one empty box from the IEC vehicle,” said Mohlala.

“The investigation is ongoing. A team consisting of three major generals and a brigadier was immediately sent to ensure that the matter receives the necessary attention.”

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Despite this incident, Mohlala said the voting process over the weekend and Monday went on with only a few minor incidents. According to him, the the first occurred in the Nkangala Region where two men suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol were arrested at Delmas for interference with the IEC officials.

In the very same area, a group of about seven men who were dressed in the regalia of their political party, were under the influence and tried to prevent the community from voting.

The police urgently and calmly de-escalated the situation. He said the other incident occurred in the Ehlanzeni Region at Masoyi at around 07:00 on Monday November 1. Mohlala said the community of Masoyi blocked the roads by burning tyres as part of their protest for water.

“However, the police reacted swiftly and defused the situation,” he said. On November 1 at 07:00 in Gert Sibande, he said around 30 community members were protesting at Piet Retief by burning tyres due to their dissatisfaction with ward demarcation.

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“As the protest took place in the morning, it delayed the opening of the voting station because the flames had to be extinguished and the rubble cleared off the road.

“In Ermelo it was reported that there was an altercation between voters who were allegedly not registered to vote at a particular station,” he said.

The provincial commissioner, along with police management conducted visits to all the three regions, especially the spots where incidents had broken out, to ensure all was running smoothly and to provide necessary support where it was needed.

In the statement by provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, said she was happy with how the proceedings were handled and thanked the Provincial Joint Committee (ProvJoc) which consists of the security stakeholders in the province, for coordinating the preparation of the process from the beginning to the end, of which the provincial commissioner is the chairperson.

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Manamela commended the members of the South African Police Service in the province as they worked tirelessly within the ambits of the law in ensuring that the voting process and the proceedings were free of any disturbances by anyone.

“I must applaud the citizens of Mpumalanga as their conduct was very professional. This shows that they respect the laws of this country and understands the importance of voting in a democratic country,” she said.