Special voting for South Africa's local government elections began on Monday, but many stations in Cape Town were unprepared, with ballot papers delayed. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said it's making steady progress to rectify the problems but is yet to provide an official update on the status of the delivery of ballots to the affected stations. The issue appears to be widespread across the metro, from the Deep South to the West Coast and the northern suburbs.
The IEC apologized to voters who turned up early at the 217 stations where ballot papers had not yet arrived. Many voters were met with a non-functioning voting station, where ballot papers had not yet arrived. Each of the city's 116 wards has a unique ballot paper reflecting the candidates contesting the election in that specific area. This has caused frustration among voters, particularly the elderly and infirm, who are eligible to cast their ballots during the special voting period.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Durbanville candidate Theresa Uys reported that the elderly in ward 112 were frustrated by the delays. A 79-year-old lady who is not well had been sitting for an hour and a half waiting for ballot sheets and voting machines. However, not all stations experienced problems, with some voters reporting a smooth voting process. In Camps Bay, a resident reported that the voting process went smoothly, and they were able to cast their ballot within two minutes.
The IEC said that only the Cape Town metro has been affected by the delays in the delivery of ballot papers. The provincial office reported that it's steadily working to resolve the problems in the metro, but elsewhere in the province, operations are running smoothly. The IEC also reported that over 780,000 South Africans cast ballots on the first day of special voting.
The special voting period is for pensioners, the infirm, and those who will be working on election day to cast their ballots at their voting station. This allows them to avoid having to vote on the actual election day. However, the delays and lack of preparedness at some stations may affect the ability of these voters to cast their ballots.
The IEC has assured voters that it's working to resolve the issues and ensure that all eligible voters can cast their ballots. The commission has also urged voters to be patient and to check the IEC website for updates on the status of their voting station. The local government elections are an important part of South Africa's democratic process, and it's essential that all eligible voters are able to participate.
The delays in Cape Town are a setback for the electoral process, but it's unclear how widespread the issue is. The IEC will likely face scrutiny over its handling of the special voting period, and the commission will need to ensure that all voters are able to cast their ballots in the upcoming elections.
Key points
- Over 780,000 South Africans cast ballots on the first day of special voting.
- The delays in ballot paper delivery affected 217 stations in Cape Town.
- The IEC reported that only the Cape Town metro was affected by the delays.
