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Voting station allegedly damaged in Limpopo

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There are reports of damage to property at a voting station in Lebowakgomo, outside Polokwane, in Limpopo, after a ballot box bearing no indication of a voting district was detected.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says party agents and members of the community allegedly stormed into the station on Saturday night. Police were called to the station to diffuse the situation.

The IEC says the crowd went on the rampage, accusing IEC officials of voter rigging.

The Provincial Electoral Office, Nkaro Mateta says some ballot boxes were damaged.

“They even affected one of the boxes that had nothing to do with these unmarked boxes. I think this matter is even more serious and they even damaged municipal property. How is it possible that one error that can be accounted for, [can make people] damaged the gates of the municipality,” explains Mateta.

Update on Day 2 special votes in Limpopo

Deployment of security officers

Limpopo’s Community Safety MEC Mavhungu-Lerule Ramakhanya says more than 5 000 police officers, traffic officers and SANDF members will be deployed across the province on voting day.

A higher number of security officers will be deployed in the Vhembe and Capricorn districts, which have several places identified as hot spots.

Ramakhanya says the special focus will be put areas such as Mogalakwena, Lephalale, Tzaneen, Ephraim Mogale and Elias Motsoaledi municipalities.

“Our team is comprised of police officers, traffic officers, SANDF members and the highest deployment for tomorrow [Monday] is Vhembe and Capricorn. We will also pay special attention to the identified medium-risk areas which are your Greater Tzaneen area, your Lephalale, your Collins Chabane, your Mogalakwena Local Municipality, your Ellias Motsoaledi.”

Improved service delivery

Some residents in Bela Bela, Limpopo, say they’re expecting to see improved service delivery after the local government elections. Residents say they will be happy to cast their vote on Monday.

They also say that the elected councillors should not abandon communities after being elected.

“I’m ready to vote. I wish our voting must go well. I’m a registered voter and I’m going to vote. After we vote for these people they just run away like I don’t know. The service here in Bela Bela – out of ten I can rate it seven out of ten – because we have many parties in the municipality,” laments one voter.

Complaint with IEC

The EFF and the Mpumalanga Party in Dennilton in the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality in Limpopo have lodged a complaint with the IEC. This follows allegations that some ballot boxes were taken to the home of one of the presiding officers.

Party agents for both parties say the incident happened after the closure of the voting station at Mthombo-Wefundo primary school on Saturday. -Additional reporting by Michael Makungo

 

 

 

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