SA heads to the polls
IEC is poised and ready to hold the country’s sixth democratic elections
SOUTH Africa’s sixth democratic elections is under way with over 22.9 million voters expected to cast their ballots at 22 924 voting stations.
Yesterday, the IEC said voting stations were “poised and ready” to open at 7am for the polls, which will see 48 political parties contest for power, particularly in the country’s economic powerhouses, the Western Cape and Gauteng.
There were concerns that violent protests could erupt in KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo.
It prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to call for free, fair and peaceful elections yesterday.
Fears of voters being intimidated have forced the police to increase the numbers of deployed officers to more than 80 000.
Western Cape community leaders in areas where there have been service delivery protests recently, have promised not to obstruct or hinder the election process.
Residents in areas such as Khayelitsha, Blackheath, Strand, Hout Bay, Caledon, Mfuleni have been venting their anger by burning tyres and barricading roads with rocks.
Mfuleni community leader Sipho Delana said there would be peace in his area today, “even though they had been through thick and thin fighting for their lives”.
“As leaders of the community we called and engaged with the residents.
“We urged them to be peaceful and allow their votes to speak for themselves.”
Tebogo Matselebane, 26, and Jason Windvogel, 18, were killed in Caledon during a protest.
Residents have been complaining about a lack of service delivery for more than a decade.
Caledon’s community leader, Odwa Silimela, said: “We need people who have backbone in this country.
“Some people will not vote because they lost hope and some will want to prove a point.”
Hout Bay activist Lee Smith said poor people in the community have been struggling for years, but he did not think today’s elections would be disrupted, “because people have been looking forward to this day”.
Apart from tensions among Hermanus communities, activist Theron Mqhu from Zwelihle said they hoped for a peaceful day of voting.
IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said they were encouraged by a significant drop in community protests, adding police were quick to intervene in instances where protest actions continued. “A minimum of two police officers will be deployed to each voting station and the police will remain on high alert in high-risk areas to ensure no disruptions to the elections.
“Citizens are reminded that any disruptions to elections constitute a criminal offence.”
Despite the minor security glitches, Mamabolo said special votes went smoothly countrywide, but they had to add additional resources for home visits in the Eastern Cape, which had the highest number of home visits and the North West, which was behind schedule on Monday.
Mamabolo also said that the IEC will start counting special votes tomorrow from 113 of the 121 foreign missions, which were cast by voters abroad on April 27.
IEC deputy chairperson Janet Love said the commission would not be able to ensure credible elections without assistance from stakeholders, including voters.
“As we all know, this is a collective endeavour.
“The commission has put in place a number of measures to deal with this, but we really count on citizens and we count on party agents and observers to assist us.
“Where there is an identification of a particular issue or a particular problem, we ask you to report it at that particular voting station, but if needs be, escalate it with as much detail as possible.”
In his election message Ramaphosa said: “We ask every candidate and party agent to help ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. Let us all go and vote for a better tomorrow.
“Let us vote for a better future and determine our country’s future”.
Ramaphosa urged registered voters to use the election day to cast their
vote. “All South Africans will have an opportunity to decide their own destiny. This day has been declared a public holiday to allow registered voters to vote for a party of their choice in both national and provincial election”.
National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole yesterday visited various parts of the North West after protests surged in which some IEC officials were targeted. Six people were arrested on Monday after torching an electoral officer’s vehicle in Ganyesa, outside Vryburg. In Ikageng, outside Potchefstroom, angry protesters set alight a ballot box which was kept in a voting tent for special votes.
In Kraaipan, just outside Mahikeng, Tlhakajeng Primary School was allegedly burnt down over the weekend by people who were boycotting the elections due to service delivery issues.
Yesterday in KwaZulu-Natal, there were again incidents of protests or ballots not arriving in time, including eThekwini, Ulundi, Mlalazi, Msunduzi, Umvoti, Abaqulusi, Jozini, and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Dr Langalibalele Dube municipalities.
Residents of Siyanda township in the north of Durban on Monday protested, vowing to disrupt voting if their demands are not met. The residents were again seen yesterday gathering near the township’s taxi rank.
On Monday, Dumisani Makhaye drive, which links KwaMashu to Pinetown and Newlands East and West, was blocked with burning tyres and protesters hurled stones at passing vehicles. Also yesterday, a group of informal settlement dwellers living near the M19 in Reservoir Hills, were protesting, demanding houses.
In Zululand and King Cetshwayo District Municipality, a wild-cat strike by Mhlathuze Water staff could disrupt elections. The strike started on Monday and it has seen Meerensee, eNseleni, Vulindlela and eSikhaleni going without water, as it was alleged that the workers have sabotaged the water system.