IEC ready to roll on voting day
‘If it means we must call the Army, we will call the Army’ – IEC uThungulu Regional supervisor, Thule Dlamini
WHILE South Africans prepare to cast their votes in Wednesday’s local government elections, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) staff are already hard at work making it all possible.
This morning and tomorrow, the first votes will be cast as 7 938 special voters will either make their way to a voting station, or in some cases, be visited at home by an IEC official with ballot papers.
Most IEC officials will not sleep much for the coming week as the full force of what is the mammoth task of organising an election hits home.
In the uThungulu district, 478 328 voters registered, a growth of 80 000 in numbers compared to the previous elections.
For regional supervisor Thule Dlamini the possibility that every single one of those voters casts their ballots on the day is an appealing one.
‘We would certainly love that,’ she said.
‘The growth can be attributed to the larger number of ‘born frees’ eligible to vote for the first time this year.
‘We will cater for 100 percent of registered voters plus a 25% buffer, in case of spoiled ballot papers.’
On Friday afternoon the last batch of just over 1.5 million ballot papers were delivered to the uThungulu District IEC office, along with ballot boxes, banners, posters, T-shirts, pens and books, while everything from paperclips to 4×4 vehicles will be checked and checked again.
In total 3 548 IEC officials will ensure voting goes without a hitch at all 544 voting stations throughout the five municipalities in the district and for one day, the IEC will become the most important organisation in the country.
‘Every governmental resource will be focused on the elections,’ said Dlamini.
‘While we normally provide our municipal offices with 4x4s in case there is rain or roads that are not accessible, we are also assisted by the SAPS and other government institutions,’ she said.
‘If it means we have to call the army to help, we will call the army.’
Dlamini will be out and about on the day, ensuring everything under her supervision runs smoothly.
‘We are ready, more than ready. It has been a long road to get here, and the really hard work is ahead of us. But we are prepared.’
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