Scrolla.Africa‘s reporters provided updates from all over SA on voting day.
9pm – King Misuzulu’s third wife, Queen Nomzamo Myeni of the Machobeni royal palace, could not vote today because King Mswati III had arranged family rituals to officially welcome her at Lugongolweni royal palace in eSwatini. This is the palace of King Misuzulu KaZwelithini’s grandfather King Sobhuza where King Misuzulu’s mother, the late Queen Regent Mantfombi kaSobhuza, grew up.
8pm – The expelled leader of the MK party Jabulani Khumalo cast his vote at Atholton Primary School in uMhlanga Ridge, north of Durban earlier today. (Celani Sikhakhane, Durban)
7.30pm – There are long queues in the township of KwaMashu in the north of Durban almost two hours before the 9pm deadline for voting stations to close. The longest voting queues are in the densely populated hostel of KwaMashu. Around 6.30pm, a group of Zulu regiments moved around the hostel singing “Phumani endlini – get out of your houses,” asking voters to come out and vote. In the same township, the longest queues were seen at the C, E, F, G and H sections where the competition is between the MK Party, the EFF and the ANC.
7pm – NFP breakaway political party AM4C KZN premier candidate Sindi Mashinini did a walkabout at KwaMashu Hostel in Durban earlier today.
6.45pm – Despite being kicked off the ANC’s parliamentary list, former mayor of eThekwini municipality Zandile Gumede spent the whole day in Inanda campaigning for the party with her local leadership. She then cast her vote at around 5pm.
6.30pm – Lower Crossroad residents made their way to Kwa-Faku Primary School in Philippi East. Lunga Sawutana, 37, went to vote even though he’s unemployed. “Most people, especially those who are not working, don’t see a need to vote because they are struggling. I vote because I believe that things will change – sitting at home won’t help me,” said Sawutana. He wants leaders to keep their promises. “I hope they will change how they do things. We have been voting, and they have never fulfilled the promises they made when they want our votes,” said Sawutana. Another resident, speaking anonymously, participated in this year’s election because he wants leaders to end crime in the communities. “We are not safe in our homes. I hope the person I give my vote to will end crime in our area and create more job opportunities,” said the resident. (Buziwe Nocuze, Cape Town)
6.15pm – Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi says that this is the only chance the South African citizens have to make their voice heard by voting for the party they want to govern this country. He voted at Abaqulusi Ward 15 in Zululand at Sgodini Primary School.
6pm – Zulu royal Prince Sbo of Oqathaqatheni voted this afternoon in Nongoma.
6pm – Controversial president of the AmaBhinca nation Ngizwe Mchunu, who has been accused of betraying former President Jacob Zuma, cast his vote at Glenwood Village in Durban.
5.45pm – The embattled leader of Team Sugar South Africa and former deputy mayor of Newcastle, Shukela Thwala, voted earlier today in his home township of Madadeni in KZN. His party was disqualified from contesting the elections.
5.30pm – The queue is still very long at Durban University of Technology, and people, especially the youth, are still coming in numbers. But voting has been going smoothly throughout the day.
5.30pm – Police shot and killed a man who allegedly opened fire on them near a voting station in Schauderville, Gqeberha, on Wednesday. Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene said the man had tried to enter the voting station with a firearm, and when the police approached him, he allegedly shot at them. “Nelson Mandela Bay, in terms of voting, has been incident-free except for this one incident that has been reported in Schauderville,” she said.
4.30pm – Princess Nomkhosi and Princess Bukhosibemvelo, sisters of King Misuzulu, cast their votes at Kita Kita High School near the KwaKhangela Mankengana Royal Palace in Nongoma. They shared their happiness about voting alongside millions of other South Africans. (Celani Sikhakhane, Nongoma)
4.30pm – New Rest residents in Gugulethu township, Cape Town voted because they want a party that will help with the issue of drain blockages. They hope the party they chose will deliver services, care about them, and understand that no human being is supposed to stay in a place where drain blockage is not fixed. Their kids get sick all the time because they play next to the drains. (Buziwe Nocuze, New Rest)
4.15pm – Former president Jacob Zuma appeared a bit confused about how to cast his ballot into the ballot box.
3.30pm – It was a sad moment for the family of the late IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi when they arrived at the Mahlabathini voting station, the local tribal court, without the party’s founder for the first time since the dawn of democracy. This was where they had always cast their votes together, starting in 1994. (Celani Sikhakhane, Mahlabathini)
3.30pm – ANC provincial chair Siboniso Duma voted in Ward 10 at the Kloof Methodist Church in the eThekwini region.
3.05pm – ActionSA KZN premier candidate Zwakele Mncwango, accompanied by his wife and kids, cast their votes in Westville, Durban. Mncwango accused the MK party of causing unnecessary panic by misleading the public with “fake” vote-rigging incidents. (Celani Sikhakhane, Westville)
2.30pm – Youth came out in their numbers to vote at Nelson Mandela Bay City Hall. Metro mayor Gary Van Niekerk voted earlier at East Midlands College’s Heath campus.
2.20pm – Residents of Philippi Browns Farm are voting at the Amy Biehl community hall and hoping their votes will bring about change in their area. Philippi is one of the most dangerous areas in Cape Town, with numerous hijackings and murders among the issues that residents complain about. (Buziwe Nocuze, Phillippi Browns Farm)
2.10pm – Hendrik Oosthuizen from Windhoek in Namibia couldn’t vote but joined the queue to provide moral support for thousands of youngsters lining up to cast their ballots in the Western Cape university town of Stellenbosch. The voting station is the historic town hall, dating back to the early 18th century. Those in the queue, including students from every corner of the country, had a waiting time of more than three hours. (Esther de Villiers, George)
2pm – As recently as Freedom Day (27 April 2024), ANC national chair Gwede Mantashe addressed provincial and regional exco members of the ANC and SACP provincial and district leadership and Mossel Bay backers during a Stakeholder Engagement meeting in KwaNonqaba – the biggest local township – in a bid for more support in the Southern Cape. Greater Mossel Bay is governed by the DA and includes 11 areas; voting in the coastal hamlet of Reebok took place in misty conditions, with an hour-plus waiting time and a demographic that hinted at yet another DA victory. (Esther de Villiers, George)
1.35pm – Former president Jacob Zuma voted at Ntolwane Primary School in Nkandla, near his kwaDakwadunuse homestead.
1.30pm – Rise Mzansi KwaZulu-Natal premier candidate Nonkululeko Hlongwane-Mhlongo cast her vote in Durban this afternoon. (Celani Sikhakhane, KwaZulu-Natal)
1.20pm – In the historic Red Location in New Brighton, Gqeberha, the voting station resembled a ghost town with one or two people trickling in every hour or so. In Zwide township, voting was swift. Residents said they were in and out in under five minutes.
1.20pm – In Richmond Hill, Gqberha, snake-like queues were filled with first-time voters, mostly university students. Asked what change they hoped to see after the elections, one student said: “We want an allowance for unemployed graduates, as we are aware that unemployment is a big issue in our country.” (Anita Dangazele, Eastern Cape)
1.05pm – There were problems at the Lehlohonolo preschool voting station in the Europe informal settlement, which serves Vukuzenzele, Botchered Quarry, and Europe in Limpopo. An angry resident said there were only 15 IEC employees at the station. Residents complained about long waits, with some still in line after arriving at 10am. (Buziwe Nocuze, Western Cape)
12.45pm – Queen Khazeka Nolubabalo Mcinga of the Abathembu nation was excited after casting her vote at Umasizakhe Community Hall, Ward 6, Graaff-Reinet.
12.35pm – Outgoing KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has just cast her vote in her home township of KwaMashu C Section in Durban.
12.30pm – The community of Hillcrest in KZN turned out in large numbers this morning to cast their votes at Hillcrest High School, causing traffic congestion as many flocked to the voting station. Dr Makhosi Khoza, deputy president of the Abantu Batho Congress, captured a video of the scene and decided to return home, planning to cast her vote later today. (Celani Sikhakhane, Hillcrest)
Read Scrolla.Africa’s live morning updates.
Pictured above: Voting scenes from across South Africa.
Image source: Anita Dangazele
