By Doreen Mokgolo
Elections in Kwa-Thema in Ekurhuleni got off to a bad start because ID scanning machines were not working.
IEC officials decided to capture voters’ details manually, but EFF and MK members rejected this and demanded the IEC resolve the issue and get hold of working scanners.
Police had to be called in to restore calm at the voting station.
The EFF’s Sipho Sibanyoni said there was no way they could agree to the IEC using the old system of capturing voters’ information.
“The manual system can be manipulated, and we don’t want that. Instead of fixing the problem, the IEC calls the police on us,” he said. “Are we now not allowed to voice our grievances and point out loopholes we see in the system?”
Voters stood in long queues from 7am to cast their votes, but the process was delayed because of the faulty system, and the queues got longer.
Pictured above: Kwa-Thema voting station.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
