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Disruptions experienced at some voting stations

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The first day of voter registration has been marred by isolated incidents of community protests around the country.  Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chief Executive Officer Sy Mamabolo says the disruptions constituted a small percentage as more than 99 % of over 22 000 voting stations were opened and operational since Saturday morning.

Mamabolo says in Katlehong service delivery protest over electricity prepaid meters also forced seven voting stations to close.

“Sadly in a handful of isolated areas a small number of voting stations around the country were unable to open on time or were forced to close shortly after opening due to a range of incidents. The most common of this was due to community protests which used the high profile of the registration activities to draw attention to their grievances and in some instances blockaded staff and voters from reaching voting stations.”

Mamabolo says several temporary shelters erected as voting stations were demolished in Qwa-Qwa and Harrismith in the Free State. He says a tent was also burnt by service delivery protesters in the province.

Mamabolo adds that the IEC staff was forced to set-up Gazibos in Tongaat, in the Ethekwini municipality, following a land dispute between residents and landlords.

“In Thabankulu in the Eastern Cape, community members stopped the activities in voting stations until the Mayor and Councillor arrived to address their grievances. In Tongaat in the Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality there are community protesters who are threatening landlords of venues used by the electoral commission forcing staff to set up Gazibos to continue the registration process. In Qwa-Qwa and Harrismith in the Free State there also, we are having protests from residents who demolished tents where we have erected temporary voting stations and one tent was burnt there over night,” says Mamabolo.

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