By Staff Writer
31:10:2021

Six polling stations in the Eastern Cape and 8 in KZN were operational on Saturday, as special voting commenced.

These were forcefully closed as a result of protest action, with residents of the Mkhambathini district, for example, padlocking voting stations in an attempt to advocate for the reinstatement of their local chief.

The IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, called for calm, arguing that, “There are people in those communities who applied for special votes, and they are entitled to the right to vote like all citizens,” and reiterating that law enforcement would be brought in to ensure citizens were able to vote.

Meanwhile, in the Free state, the North West and Gauteng, bad weather forced the closure of some polling stations, with landlord issues affecting a few others. The IEC reiterated that it has alternative plans to remain operational on Sunday. Most cases regarding leased stations had been resolved, and all remaining issues would be assessed after the elections.

Over a million special votes were approved in 2021, of the 26 million eligible voters, with Coronavirus concerns mainly accounting for the increased number. Just over 50% of these special votes will be cast at voting stations, while the rest will be visited in person, with the IEC reiterating that strict Coronavirus protocols were in place.
Over a thousand stations had been set up for special votes, with thousands opening on Monday for ordinary votes.

South Africans vote on 1 November to elect officials for the over 270 municipalities. Over 90 thousand candidates are standing, with over 1500 standing as independents, in what may prove to be South Africa’s most competitive elections yet.

The ruling African National Congress is likely to emerge as the largest party; however, it may not pass the 50% threshold to govern in most of its metros, with coalition talks already beginning, even before the poll.

Questions and concerns around voter turnout have been raised, especially in light of growing voter apathy, and because the day allocated for the poll is a Monday, meaning that many may have travelled outside their districts as a result of the long weekend. Local government elections in South Africa require voters to vote in their designated precinct. They may only cast proportional representation votes outside districts that they’re registered as residents.