The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says over 3.5 million people have voted in the Local Government Elections so far.
South Africans are set to cast their ballots until 9pm on Monday.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Results Operations Centre in Pretoria, IEC Chairperson Glen Mashinini, says voting is progressing well across the country.
He says, “The logistical arrangements as well as the voter management devices are holding well, on the whole. As at 12: 30 over 3.5 million voters had already voted. We are able to report this because of the use of the voter management devices. The commission is therefore satisfied with the voting process.”
Mashinini says over 99% of the 23 148 voting stations opened on time.
He says, “In KwaZulu-Natal, 20 voting stations did not open on time because of community protests in Camperdown and Mdloti. The stations have now opened in co-operation with the security.”
Presiding officer arrest
Mashinini says a presiding officer in the eThekwini Metro was arrested after allegedly stuffing marked ballots into a ballot box.
“The matter is now in the hands of the South African Police. This incident did not affect voting, is a testament to the in-built safeguards in the voting process that also include an active role for party and independent candidate agents.”
Below is the briefing:
