The history of democracy in our country reached another major milestone today as millions of South Africans began arriving at stations around the country to vote in our country’s fifth national and provincial election, said Chief Electoral Officer, Mosotho Moepya.
The history of democracy in our country reached another major milestone today as millions of South Africans began arriving at stations around the country to vote in our country’s fifth national and provincial election, said Chief Electoral Officer, Mosotho Moepya.
By late morning on Wednesday 7 May, voting was proceeding smoothly, peacefully and briskly at voting stations across South Africa, he said.
In echoes of 1994, South Africans of all races, genders, cultures, languages and backgrounds were once again united as a nation in their support for democracy as they turned out in their millions to cast a vote in the national and provincial elections.
Moepya said that shortly after the scheduled 7am start of voting, 89% of the 22 263 voting stations had reported opening on schedule.
This had increased to over 95% by 9am as election staff reported in on the system following the opening rush.
By 11am the final handful of stations which had experienced delays were in the process of opening.
These delays were primarily of a logistical and staffing nature and included the late arrival of staff and escorting security personnel; the late delivery of some voting material and delayed access to voting station facilities primarily in unlocking buildings.
In one instance, the boat used to transport personnel across a river to a voting station in KwaZulu-Natal was delayed in arriving
In addition, strong winds in George and Atlantis in the Western Cape and Upington in the Northern Cape had damaged tents used as temporary voting stations.
“(We) are pleased to report significantly fewer incidents of community protest action affecting the voting process early today – with voting proceeding calmly although quietly in many previously affected areas.
We would like to thank those communities for working with us to allow voting to proceed. This includes Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape, Bekkersdal in Gauteng and Maramulele in Limpopo,” the IEC said.
Isolated community protests, however, continued to affect the opening of some stations to varying degrees today, said Moepya.
Among the areas in which isolated instances of protest action affecting the opening of voting stations were:
“We also received a report of an accident involving an IEC area manager near Gariep in the Free State. The manager was not severely injured and we wish him a speedy recovery.
“We have also had a report of an accident near Barkley West in the Northern Cape in which a party agent died and another was critically injured in an accident on their way to a voting station. We would like to express our condolences to their families,” he said.
“The Electoral Commission would like to thank the security services for their support and assistance in all areas including in escorting security material, securing the voting stations and in ensuring peace and stability.
“We would also like to thank the voters who continue to inspire us all as they stand together patiently, proudly and passionately to vote in what has become a symbol of our nation,” said Moepya.
