The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) managers in northern KwaZulu-Natal’s Amajuba and Zululand districts say they are ready for the national elections.
Special votes will be cast on Monday and Tuesday. Amajuba IEC district manager, Nonhlanhla Mobane, says they are putting the finishing touches on preparations for the more than 200 voting stations in Newcastle, Utrecht and Dannhauser.
Zululand IEC district manager, Mazwi Zungu, says they have identified areas that may become problematic if it rains.
He says they have, however, made arrangements with municipalities to provide four by four vehicles should they be faced with heavy rains.
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Meanwhile, the area of Umzimkhulu in southern KwaZulu-Natal is among some of the areas in the province where a high number of police officers have been deployed to monitor this year’s national election. The area is notorious for political killings and violent public protests.
The hotspots that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has identified in the North West have increased from 79 to 83.
Police Minister Bheki Cele has identified the North West and KwaZulu-Natal as the leading the high-risk areas regarding voting. However, IEC provincial head, Tumelontle Thiba, is optimistic that the elections will run smoothly.
Cele has called on parties, candidates and the public to help ensure a free and fair election. Cele met with police in Durban to officially deploy members to monitor hotspots in KwaZulu-Natal. He said what is at stake is more than observing the Electoral Act, but the future of 57-million South Africans for the next 5 years.
