Eight voting stations under the Mkhambathini Local Municipality, at uMgungundlovu district in KwaZulu-Natal, have not opened.
This is due to threats received from certain community members.
The voting stations in wards 1, 2, 3 and 5 in the Mkhambathini Local Municipality have been locked with padlocks.
Some community members at the Nyamvu area want their local Chief reinstated after he was recently removed.
The Electoral Commission Regional Manager in Umgungundlovu, Khulekani Mdadane says their staff are also now afraid to effect special votes due to the threats.
“It is an issue of Inkosi Kwanyavu area. We have eight voting stations that could not open today. The issue is about an Inkosi that has been replaced the area. There is a portion that is requesting that the Inkosi be re-instated . There were threats received some time ago. The security cluster is aware. We had meetings before this but today to our surprise all our voting stations were locked. The staff is now intimidating, the community as well. That is the challenge. We could not open those eight voting stations,” says Mdadane .
#sabcnews #sabckzn Inhlanhlayabebhezu high in KwaNyavu number 3 of ward 2 in uMkhambathini munic is among 8 voting stations allegedly locked by community. pic.twitter.com/s9ajRO7IK8
— Nonkululeko Hlophe (@Leko3) October 30, 2021
Meanwhile, most voting stations across the province and across South Africa opened at 8am on Saturday morning.
Voting stations across South Africa will be open on Saturday and Sunday between 8am and 5pm to allow for special votes.
#sabcnews #sabcnewskzn Inhlanhlayabebhezu high school in KwaNyavu number 3 of ward 2 in uMkhambathini Municipality is amongst eight voting stations locked allegedly by community demanding reinstatement of local iNkosi. pic.twitter.com/zfXhmoraH8
— Mlondi Radebe (@mlondiee) October 30, 2021
LGE 2021 I Voting stations readiness in KwaZulu-Natal
Shortage of PPEs
Meanwhile, Mdadane says there were also delayed home visits due to personal protective equipments (PPEs) that arrived late at other voting stations.
“We had a few voting stations that could not start with home visits because of the shortage of PPEs. So there was a delay in the delivery, but I can confirm that we received all PPEs now. We are busy distrusting them now. The voting stations that could not commence with home visits will be starting very soon,” says Mdadane.
LGE 2021 I Voting stations readiness in the Northern Cape
