The Electoral Commission in Limpopo reports a successful opening day for the voter registration weekend, with all voting stations operational. However, there were isolated incidents where certain community members attempted to disrupt the registration process.
The Police arrested 08 suspects aged between 27 and 43 for allegedly blocking and intimidating other community members who were going into the registration point placed at Masemola Tribal Office in Sekhukhune District.
They also threatened party agents in the process. The incident took place at around 10:00 in the morning.
The police were alerted about the incident and quickly responded. On arrival, a group of men and women were identified by the Ward Councilor. A case of intimidation was opened and the suspects( two females and five males) were arrested.
They will appear before Nebo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 November 2023.
Limpopo SAPS led by Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe worked diligently over the voter registration weekend, 18 – 19 November 2023 by ensuring extensive deployments of members at various registration points across the Province, working closely with the Independent Electoral Commission, other government departments and local leadership.
“We commend our officers for ensuring a peaceful registration process in the Province. Ours was to ensure a safe and secure environment for eligible community members who wanted to register to vote,” said Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
“An integrated approach ensured smooth sharing of information and gathering intelligence on the ground, thus ensuring a safe and efficient registration weekend,” added Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
Tonic Manchidi, President of the Democratic Union Party SA has launched a complaint against IEC at Voting District 76350382, Lehlake Primary School in Phokwane, in Limpopo.
“The Electoral Commission (IEC) has promised political parties that they’ll have offline access to capture data, but in Makhuduthamaga, they’re using pen and paper, which is the most unsafe way to keep voters data safe. Many of our people will be told that they’re not registered to vote come next year elections,” said Manchidi.
In another incident EFF in Mpumalanga has lodged complaints about certain voting stations being closed for the entire day and others experiencing delays in opening until the afternoon in Phezukwentaba VD Ward 12 in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga. Following an investigation, the IEC disclosed that these stations, along with two others in the ward, are only open for a brief two-hour period in the afternoon.
South Africa is scheduled to hold national and provincial elections next year, and President Cyril Ramaphosa is yet to announce the date.
