Strong winds have officials working around the clock

Rain wreaked havoc in some parts of the Eastern Cape yesterday, resulting in voting delays after 22 temporary voting stations collapsed.

Hardest hit by the heavy rains and gale-force winds was the hotly contested King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, Buffalo City and the Nelson Mandela Metro, provincial elections head Thami Mraji announced late yesterday.

“Our tents have been blown down as far as Mthatha. In Nelson Mandela Bay, we have 11 tents blown down, in King Sabata Dalindyebo in Mthatha we have nine tents blown down. In Port St Johns we have two tents blown down,” he said.

Mraji said his major concern was the snow which started falling in other parts of the province.

“Our main challenge is the weather,” he said.

“We are getting reports of snow in the northeastern parts such as Senqu and Barkly East.”

Last night, political parties including the ANC and the EFF called for the IEC commissioner to consider extending voting hours to at least 9pm, to accommodate the delays.

ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said: “We are calling on the IEC to put in place mechanisms to allow voting to continue. We hope this delay will not affect voting and the time delays will be considered when the closing time of the voting station approaches.”

DA MP Kevin Mileham said the bad weather was a serious setback for yesterday’s elections.

Echoing similar sentiments to Mabuyane, EFF provincial election head Pindiwe Kaba said: “We are very disappointed that the IEC could not come up with contingency plans here and there.

“They will have to consider extending voting hours by an hour or two.”

Mraji said only once an official call had been made to the commissioner and accepted would such be considered. He said he had received the go-ahead to find alternative accommodation to enable all the voters to cast their votes.

In BCM, elderly voters braved the cold weather to go and cast their votes, with many wrapped in blankets and coats. They were ferried to voting stations by taxis and private vehicles organised by the ANC.

Young voters only emerged in numbers around midday at some stations when a bit of sky cleared.

However, late in the afternoon, a strong wind forced some voters to remain at home.

The wind blew so strongly across the township that three huge electricity poles fell over near the Mdantsane City Mall.

This resulted in a blackout in most areas and businesses around the mall in NU6.

The Herald reported that in Nelson Mandela Bay, wind blew down tents at voting stations across the metro – including in Walmer‚ New Brighton‚ Kwazakhele and Booysen Park – yesterday morning‚ while voters at Sewende Laan held up the tent poles before casting their ballots.

Several stations did not open on time‚ while others used candles for light due to a lack of electricity.

Voters at Sewende Laan station in Booysen Park were made to work for their right to vote after winds almost toppled the voting tent for a second time yesterday morning.

IEC officials and voters alike took turns holding up the tent poles before casting their votes as they battled strong winds.

The tent had fallen at 3am yesterday and by 10.30am it was still not secure.

In Struandale‚ IEC presiding officer Vuyelwa Xhego said the lack of electricity hampered an early start.

“When we got here at 5am‚ we had to use candles and we will be forced to do the same this evening, and this area is not safe. The side of the tent was also affected by the wind‚ but we managed to start on time‚” she said.

Despite the wet and windy conditions‚ friends Vuyiswa Mqhayisa‚ 77‚ and Nombeko Khonya‚ 81‚ made their way to the Masakhane voting centre in Ward 22.

Khonya refused help from party agents and insisted on the assistance of her friend Mqhayisa.

“I am worried that they will sabotage my vote. That is why I asked my friend to help me vote for the party of my choice‚” she said. — additional reporting by The Herald