Nomusa Zulu, a 63-year-old former expanded public works programme worker, was laid to rest at Mopel cemetery in Hammarsdale on Saturday. She had collapsed while waiting to vote at the Shallcross Primary School voting station in Demat, about 20km southwest of the Durban CBD, on Wednesday morning. Her family had to make funeral arrangements with their own meagre resources, without any assistance or messages of condolence from the IEC or government agencies.
According to her daughter, Amanda Zulu, Nomusa was excited about voting and had been looking forward to it. She had even gotten up early, at 5:30 am, on voting day, eager to cast her ballot. However, when they arrived at the voting station, Nomusa was told to go to the front of the queue as an elderly person, while Amanda was made to wait in the ordinary queue. It was not long before Nomusa collapsed, and Amanda was called to rush to the voting station to find her mother on the floor.
The family is angry and believes that Nomusa could have been saved if IEC officials at the station had rushed her to a medical facility. They argue that the IEC should have ensured that there were people with medical training at voting stations. Instead, they had to call an e-hailing vehicle themselves to take Nomusa to Chatsworth's RK Khan Hospital, despite the presence of many police vehicles and IEC officials at the scene.
The family claims that they received no support or condolences from the IEC or government agencies, which has added to their pain. According to Cynthia, Nomusa's sister, "There is no point in voting because nobody cares." The family feels that if Nomusa's vote had been valued, she would not have been left to suffer alone.
In contrast, the MK Party, which won ward 72 where Demat's Shallcross Primary School voting station was located, extended visits, condolences, and promises to assist the family with funeral arrangements. This gesture has highlighted the perceived lack of support from the IEC and government agencies.
Provincial electoral officer Ntombifuthi Masinga confirmed Nomusa's death on Thursday and conveyed the IEC's condolences. However, for Nomusa's family, this gesture may be too little, too late. They feel that more needs to be done to prevent such incidents in the future and to ensure that voters receive the support they need.
The incident has raised questions about the IEC's preparedness and response to emergencies at voting stations. The family's experience has also highlighted the need for greater support and care for voters, particularly the elderly and vulnerable.
Key points
- The family of Nomusa Zulu received no support or condolences from the IEC or government agencies after her death.
- The family believes that Nomusa could have been saved if IEC officials had rushed her to a medical facility.
- The MK Party extended support and condolences to the family, contrasting with the perceived lack of support from the IEC and government agencies.
