Pretoria - There is nothing sinister about voting stations not being open for the casting of special votes in Vuwani, Limpopo, on Monday, said the Electoral Commission (IEC).
Across the country, citizens who requested to cast special votes in the 2016 Municipal Elections, are today casting their votes in the first of the two days set aside for special votes.
“We had 32 special votes applications [in Vuwani]. We should be able to complete them in two hours flat. So we decided it’s easier to get them done tomorrow. The message has been communicated … [There is] nothing sinister at all,” Chief Electoral Officer Mosotho Moepya said in response to a question on Monday.
Last week, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen said government has been holding extensive dialogue sessions with role players in Vuwani to curb further incidents of violence in the area due to the issue of demarcation.
The Minister’s comments were echoed by Acting National Police Commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane, who assured residents that they will have a platform to vote which will be secured by the police.
The IEC has approved a record 719 222 applications for special votes, which include 315 597 (44%) home visits and 403 625 (56%) votes to be cast at voting stations.
Special votes are in the process of being cast countrywide over the course of today and tomorrow, with voting hours set at between 8 am and 5pm for each of the two days.
Those who cast their special votes today include IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini as well as IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela.
Meanwhile, the IEC has expressed satisfaction with the start of special voting. The commission said special votes provide an opportunity to resolve challenges ahead of Election Day on Wednesday.
“Besides offering voters who cannot vote at the voting station on Wednesday an opportunity to participate, special voting also provides the Electoral Commission with an opportunity to identify and resolve any challenges ahead of Election Day,” said Moepya. – SAnews.gov.za
