NINETY-SIX-year-old Lourina Hayes was one of the oldest eligible special voters to cast their vote yesterday.
More than 57000 special voters were accredited in the Eastern Cape to vote yesterday and today.
According to the Electoral Act, special votes are meant for the physically infirm or disabled or pregnant, or serving as an officer in the election or security services in connection with elections.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Hayes called on the youth to go out in their numbers tomorrow to vote.
“As much as it is an inconvenience to leave your room and go vote, I think if I did it at the tender age of 96, why can’t the youth do it,” Hayes said, showing her inked thumb.
An 87-year-old pensioner, Loreen Beckermann from Berea Gardens old age home, voted from the comfort of her home.
“I’ve been voting since I was 18 years old and I will vote in the next elections as well,” Beckermann said.
Mary Scott Hodgson, 94, also cast her vote yesterday.
Sandra Cook, 44, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, voted from her Lynette Elliot frail care room with the assistance of Electoral Commission (EC) officials.
Multiple sclerosis or MS is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance, and sensation.
“Every individual needs to vote. I was very excited to see the more than 26000 expatriates voted,” Cook said, referring to the number of South Africans registered to vote overseas.
These votes were couriered back to South Africa from 116 missions.
Cook said she has never missed an election and plans to vote in the 2016 local government elections.
However, the day was not incident-free, as the United Democratic Movement (UDM) opened a criminal case with Ngangelizwe police after it found unregistered special voters voting at Waterfall Park junior primary school.
UDM provincial secretary Wandile Tsipa said their members had told them people not on the special voters’ register were being allowed to vote.
“We decided to plant our own people who had not reregistered and they vote,” Tsipa said.
He said they had reported the matter to the EC provincial office as well.
A total of 104 people registered for special votes at the Waterfall Park voting station.
EC provincial spokeswoman Pearl Ngoza confirmed the incident and said the commission would investigate the matter.
She said a total of 3665 voting stations opened for special votes yesterday in the Eastern Cape.
Of those eligible to vote in the Eastern Cape (3.2-million), 85% have registered to make their mark in tomorrow’s election.
Buffalo City Metro recorded the highest number of special votes in the province with 6409 voters.
Elderly and infirm cast special votes
More than 57000 special voters were accredited in the Eastern Cape to vote yesterday and today.
According to the Electoral Act, special votes are meant for the physically infirm or disabled or pregnant, or serving as an officer in the election or security services in connection with elections.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Hayes called on the youth to go out in their numbers tomorrow to vote.
“As much as it is an inconvenience to leave your room and go vote, I think if I did it at the tender age of 96, why can’t the youth do it,” Hayes said, showing her inked thumb.
An 87-year-old pensioner, Loreen Beckermann from Berea Gardens old age home, voted from the comfort of her home.
“I’ve been voting since I was 18 years old and I will vote in the next elections as well,” Beckermann said.
Mary Scott Hodgson, 94, also cast her vote yesterday.
Sandra Cook, 44, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, voted from her Lynette Elliot frail care room with the assistance of Electoral Commission (EC) officials.
Multiple sclerosis or MS is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance, and sensation.
“Every individual needs to vote. I was very excited to see the more than 26000 expatriates voted,” Cook said, referring to the number of South Africans registered to vote overseas.
These votes were couriered back to South Africa from 116 missions.
Cook said she has never missed an election and plans to vote in the 2016 local government elections.
However, the day was not incident-free, as the United Democratic Movement (UDM) opened a criminal case with Ngangelizwe police after it found unregistered special voters voting at Waterfall Park junior primary school.
UDM provincial secretary Wandile Tsipa said their members had told them people not on the special voters’ register were being allowed to vote.
“We decided to plant our own people who had not reregistered and they vote,” Tsipa said.
He said they had reported the matter to the EC provincial office as well.
A total of 104 people registered for special votes at the Waterfall Park voting station.
EC provincial spokeswoman Pearl Ngoza confirmed the incident and said the commission would investigate the matter.
She said a total of 3665 voting stations opened for special votes yesterday in the Eastern Cape.
Of those eligible to vote in the Eastern Cape (3.2-million), 85% have registered to make their mark in tomorrow’s election.
Buffalo City Metro recorded the highest number of special votes in the province with 6409 voters.
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