Crunch time! Lim’s election results may usher in new dawn

It is crunch time as South Africans are going to the polls in the long awaited local government elections first thing this morning (Wednesday). With the odd new player on the block, the results hold the promise of ushering in a new dawn that would determine the future.
In Limpopo it was all systems go by Tuesday when the last check was done at time of going to press. Motsiri Ramafalo for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Limpopo told Polokwane Observer that thus far they had very few challenges or problems with the 55 295 special vote applications received for Monday and Tuesday, but overall did well. He referred to one of their presiding officers – later identified as presiding officer for Tete High School in Fetakgomo – being involved in an accident on the way to the voting station and wrong ballot papers arriving at Ephraim Mogale Municipality on Monday, resulting in a postponement of special votes to yesterday (Tuesday) that affected 149 voters. In Vuwani where sporadic unrest has brought life to a standstill the past few months, all was set for voting at the 56 stations in the area. According to Ramafalo 34 special votes in Vuwani had been reserved for yesterday as initially planned.
At the time of going to press Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) acting Provincial Secretary Lulamile Jack referred to threats of intimidation in Vuwani receiving top priority. He said about 30 of their members had been deployed there since last Wednesday and that another approximate 100 were intended for deployment today. Their members, he said, have been on the ground communicating with locals and doing door-to-doors.

On Tuesday morning Provincial Police spokesperson Ronel Otto said an estimated 1 000 Police officials had been deployed in Vuwani and surrounds until tomorrow (Thursday). According to her upheaval still occurred in certain spots but wasn’t considered serious. Police were patrolling the area, where the main routes were accessible and some gravel roads were still barricaded with rocks, she indicated.
On Monday the Provincial Government declared Limpopo ready for safe, free and fair local government elections. In a media release Provincial Government spokesperson Phuti Seloba referred to stakeholders and the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Vuwani having signed a peace agreement last Thursday to restore normalcy throughout Vhembe District and ensure peaceful elections.
According to the IEC in the province voting at the 3 111 stations across Limpopo was due to open today at 07:00 and close again at 19:00. Limpopo’s first citizen, Premier Stan Mathabatha is expected to cast his vote at Laerskool Pietersburg-Oos just after noon.
Hours after closing of the voting stations tonight the Results Operations Centre (ROC) at Peter Mokaba Stadium is set to transform into a customary frenzy as results should start pouring in. Ramafalo indicated that the first ballot boxes are expected to arrive at the ROC at around 22:00 to 23:00 today.
Following the launch of the ROC last Thursday, the IEC in Limpopo indicated readiness as the referee for elections to once again delivering free, fair and credible elections. In a media release the IEC in the province said it was all systems go for 56 parties and 9 263 registered candidates – inclusive of 100 independents – to battle it out for the ever decisive mark on a ballot paper to be cast by 2,566 million voters in the province.
Of the total candidates registered this year, 5 256 were party ward candidates and 4 007 party proportional list candidates, according to the IEC statistics. Reference was made to the comparative number of candidates in this year’s election being much higher than the 6 656 of 2011 and 5 613 of 2006.
The IEC stated that the number of independent ward candidates have decreased from 172 in 2011. “The decrease in the number of independent candidates relates to the fact that some have now established their own parties. As part of the verification compliance, 753 candidates were disqualified.” A total 46% of candidates were apparently disqualified for non-submission of documentation, 38% for non-payment of deposit and 15% not being registered in the municipality in which they wanted to contest. The number of parties contesting more than doubled the 20 parties of 2011 and the 16 of 2006.
The 2016 elections see the highest number of voters ever to take part in elections in the province, according to IEC statistics. Visit observer.co.za for updates and visuals of activity at voting stations around the city from this morning onwards.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com
Photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: Hosea Mashao, Presiding Officer at the voting station at Flora Park Comprehensive Secondary School, where six special votes were cast on Monday before lunch.