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Elections 2024: LIVE UPDATE | Zululanders head to the polls

The ZO brings you all the live action at various voting stations as Zululanders make their mark

May 29, 2024
Gugu Myeni 2 minutes read
As at 8.30am on election day, about 50 people had already cast their vote at the Macekane polling station PHOTO: Muzi Zincume

As voting day winds down, with polling stations expected to close at 9pm this (Wednesday) evening, issues began to surface at some stations across the region.

In KwaMbonambi, voters have reportedly been queuing for four hours at KwaMbonambi Primary School, owing to insufficient tablets at this polling station.

While the IEC in the district is attending to the situation, the commission has reported that all in the queue by 9pm will be assisted.
Other areas reported issues with the Voter Management Devices.

Earlier today 

It was an early start for thousands of registered voters across the Zululand region who descended on their respective polling stations on Wednesday to make their mark in the national and provincial elections (NPE).

The voting process got off to a smooth start, with some stations in Richards Bay, Empangeni, Mtubatuba opening on time at 7am.

At John Ross College, more than 200 people were already in line by 7.30am, which was also the case for Veldenvlei Primary School’s polling station as a long queue was already observed by 8am.

Except for a slight delay in the opening of the polls, it was smooth sailing with no issues reported at Veldenvlei.

Political party representatives, who were present to observe proceedings, said they were ready for a long day ahead.

Lt Col VC Pillay and Cpt Helen Odendaal, who were on duty the primary school, said election day entails long hours of ensuring peace and calm.

Arboretum residents voted at Arboretum and Richardia primary schools. Outside Richardia Primary School, a busy parking lot just after 7am indicated a good voter turnout.

With excellent management by the IEC staff stationed at this polling station, the voting process went fast and queues quickly cleared up.

Presiding officer Jainab Msomi told the ZO that a faulty VMD scanner caused a slight delay of a few minutes, but that the polls successfully opened just after 7am with no further problems reported.

According to Msomi, they were expecting just over 1 000 voters, judging by the number of people who had registered.

Voting got off to a good start at the Dube Village Church polling station in eSikhaleni. Hundreds of residents cast their votes in the three sub-stations inside. Apart from some minor political interference just before opening, no incidents were reported.

According to the presiding officer, Muzi Mthethwa, it has been smooth sailing so far.

Bajabulile Primary School, also in eSikhaleni, had issues accommodating elderly people because the voting station is on the first floor.

They also experienced issues with their VMD system, which loses network, but they have been using the manual voters’ roll to check registered voters.

In Empangeni and surrounding areas, voters were also up bright and early, as they trickled into their voting stations.

At the Macekane polling station, about 50 people had cast their vote by 8.30am on election day.

It was a jovial mood in eSikhaleni at the opening of the Dube Village Church polling station, where voters lined up to cast their ballots while various political parties were dancing and playing music outside the voting station boundaries.

 

Voting stations will be open until 9pm.

Follow the ZO social media pages for all the live action at various voting stations

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May 29, 2024
Gugu Myeni 2 minutes read
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