Elections 2019: Voting queues slow down but hopes are high that election fever will pick up
Mayor Mdluli waited patiently for his turn to vote and did not demand to be 'pushed to the front'
After a brisk start to voting this morning, queues have slowed down at most stations in the Endumeni district and beyond.
There was a burst of activity at Ethangeni School in the late morning but this petered out to a trickle.
In Sibongile, there was plenty of activity by political parties manning information tables at the old administration office station. At the Sibongile Hall, only an ANC table was visible. The elderly were taken to the front of the queue by eager officials.
Mayor Mdluli waiting to vote in Sibongile
.Mayor Mdluli arrived shortly after 11 am to cast his vote. Driving the old Mayoral Audi – used previously by Mayor Mahaye, Mayor Mdluli preferred not to jump the queue but patiently waited his turn. His wait was not longer than ten minutes.
He told the Courier ‘everyone should be encouraged to exercise their hard-won right to vote’. “Even if you are disgruntled with the present Government, come and make your mark. We are keen to start afresh and everyone must join in”. However, he did mention he was hoping for a ‘decisive ANC victory’.
In Sithembile, Glencoe, Courier reporter Fathima Zubane said there was only a trickle of voters at both voting stations. An IEC official said voters are expected to make their way to vote in the late afternoon. However, a gusting wind and evening chill could put them off.
Waiting their turn at the Glencoe Townhall
There was plenty of activity at the Glencoe Town Hall (where by 1pm 542 people had voted) and Glenridge Stations with banter between party supporters. Police were on standby but nothing untoward was reported. Horses roamed around the Glenridge Hall and the chat among voters appeared to be more focused on Liverpool’s remarkable Champions League victory over Barcelona last night than on politics.
Councillor Nathi Khanyile of the EFF at Glenridge
The Courier’s Byron Pillay said there was a slow voting day in Dannhauser too. Results are expected to start trickling in during the course of the night. The official announcement of the final results will be done by the IEC on Saturday.
The Electoral Commission has also noted media and social media reports of voters who have attempted or apparently been able to remove the indelible ink mark on their thumbs.
In a statement released to the Courier, the IEC said by 11H30, only 17 voting stations in the country had remained unopened due to access challenges. Fourteen of these were on the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The Electoral Commission is working closely with security agencies supported by government departments to open these stations as soon as possible and safe for voters and election staff.
“Inclement weather was reported through the southern parts of the country including parts of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Free State where cold conditions and rain were reported. However, the weather was not bad enough to affect voting operations.
“The Electoral Commission has also noted media and social media reports of voters who have attempted or apparently been able to remove the indelible ink mark on their thumbs.
“The indelible ink is one of a number of security checks and safeguards built into the election process but the Commission wishes to remind all voters that any attempt to undermine the integrity of the election process – including attempting to remove the ink mark – constitutes electoral fraud and is punishable by up to 10 years in jail.
“The Electoral Commission wishes to thank voters who have already responded to the call to vote and appeals to all remaining voters to make their way to a voting station before they close at 21H00 tonight,” the statement concluded.
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