Most voting stations in the Eastern Cape opened on time but a tragedy within the IEC and several dysfunctional stations cast a shadow over the province’s final registration weekend.
The tragedy involved an area manager at one of the stations who was killed in a motor vehicle accident.
A few voting stations in the Eastern Cape opened late and some did not open at all due to service delivery protests.
Of the 4,791 stations in the province, about 76 were either open for only part of the day on Saturday, or did not open at all, and 43 were indicated to have posed as “challenges” on Sunday.
IEC provincial electoral officer Kayakazi Magudumana said on Sunday the reason for the stations not opening “was regrettably something we had no control over”.
She said most of the challenges were in Stutterheim under the Amahlathi municipality, where 26 voting stations were affected.
The town has been on lockdown for weeks with residents protesting for better services.
On Saturday, some stations in Amahlathi never opened at all, while others opened late or closed early.
On Sunday, six stations in the area were not open by midday.
Magudumana said a contingency plan had been put in place to get the stations to open.
“Negotiations with communities in other areas where stations were being prevented from opening was ongoing.
“These were mostly successful, and as a result, 25 stations opened late but managed to operate fully thereafter.”
Speaking of the IEC area manager who died in a car accident, Magudumana said: “On behalf of the IEC, we extend our sincerest condolences and prayers to his family and we thank them for his dedicated service given to the organisation.”
She said had already delivered all materials to the stations within his area before the tragedy occurred.
Magudumana said other stations that were problematic on Sunday were dotted throughout the province and residents were being addressed by officials working with the IEC to ensure voters were afforded the opportunity to register...