A day before the elections, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has once again urged disgruntled South Africans not to disrupt the voting processes and allow people their constitutional right to vote.
Giving a final update on their election readiness on Tuesday, IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo called for peace and calm ahead of the big day on Wednesday.
“Let voting continue peacefully, calmly and without disruption and let us once against show the world that South Africa remains a shining light of democracy in action,” Mamabolo said.
“The campaigning has been done; it is now the turn of the voters to have their say.”
While the IEC noted a significant decline in community protests this week, Mamabolo reminded citizens that Wednesday was a day for the electorate to make their mark on the ballot papers, rather than protest.
“Citizens are reminded that any disruption to elections constitutes a criminal offence,” he said.
Isolated incidents across the country have disrupted some of the special votes, which has led to a number of stations across the country opening late or not opening at all.
Mamabolo said this included two stations in the North West, a province which has been identified as a hot spot.
On Monday, during the first day of special voting, a group of knife wielding men accosted IEC officials who were conducting home visits in Giyani, Limpopo.
According to Mamabolo, the men confiscated 93 unused provincial ballot papers, which they then destroyed.
“Fortunately, no one was injured, and the cast ballots were secured and not affected,” Mamabolo said.
A school in Kraaipan village, North West, which will be used as a voting station, was also torched on Monday during an apparent service delivery protest.
Mamabolo announced that the IEC was investigating reports of the double envelope system not being used, as well as some ballot papers which may have not been stamped on the back, during special voting on Monday.
He said that the incidents had been reported to the Party Liaison Committee on Tuesday, which recommended that the ballots be accepted where their legitimacy could be verified.
“The commission will ultimately make a decision on whether these votes are included in the count or not.”
In the case of three unused and unassembled ballot boxes found on the side of the road in Tzaneen, Limpopo, the commission found that the boxes were lost during transit by the area manager.
He added that the manager had been suspended pending an internal disciplinary inquiry.
The IEC expressed confidence that all special voting would be completed by Tuesday.
“We do not yet have accurate figures for special votes cast over the past two days, but indications are that this has proceeded well throughout the country,” Mamabolo said.
He added that special votes from 113 of the 121 foreign missions had been received, after South Africans abroad voted on April 27. The outstanding ballots are expected to be received before 21:00 on Wednesday.