The Electoral Commission says close to 99% of voting stations opened on time at 8am on Monday as special voting began ahead of South Africa’s local government elections.
IEC official Masego Shiburi gave the national opening figure at a briefing at the Results Operation Centre in Midrand, according to a report published by government news agency SAnews on Monday afternoon.
The figure describes stations opening at the scheduled time. It is not a measure of voter turnout or the proportion of approved special voters who have cast their ballots.
Cape Town delays remained an exception
The commission’s national assessment does not mean voting began without problems everywhere. Cape Town experienced delays in getting ballot papers to voting stations, which the IEC said were opening as supplies arrived.
Western Cape electoral officer Michael Hendrickse earlier said 217 stations had not opened at 8am. That was a count of delayed openings at the start of the day, not a confirmed total of stations still closed this afternoon.
The latest report does not establish that all affected Cape Town stations have since opened. Read our earlier report on the ballot-delivery delays.
Special voting continues on Tuesday
Station-based special voting runs until 5pm on Monday and continues on Tuesday. Approved voters must use the station where they are registered and bring a smart ID card, green barcoded ID book or valid temporary identity certificate.
The IEC said a station may close after the first day if all its approved special voters have been served. It will reopen for ordinary voting on Wednesday, 4 November.
