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National Results Operations Centre, Tshwane – The Electoral Commission is happy to report that over 99% of the 23 148 voting stations opened on time to kick start voting in the 2021 Municipal Elections.

The Commission commends South Africans for coming out, as they continue to, in huge numbers to vote. Many voting stations have reported strong turnout from early in the day with many voters already waiting to vote before the 7am opening. We continue to urge registered voters to make their way to voting stations.

In general, voting is progressing well across the country. The logistical arrangements as well as the voter management devices are holding well, on the whole. As at 12h30 over 3.5 million voters had already voted. We are able to report this because of the use of the voter management devices. The Commission is therefore satisfied with the voting process.

As with any event of this magnitude involving 23 000 service points, there have been incidents which have been reported:

· In KwaZulu-Natal, 20 voting stations did not open on time because of community protests. In Camperdown and Mdlothi. The stations have now opened in co-operation with the security service.

· As reported earlier, a presiding officer in the eThekwini Metro was arrested after allegedly stuffing marked ballots into a ballot box. The matter is now in the hands of the South African Police. This incident, which did not affect voting, is a testament to the in-built safeguards in the voting process that also include an active role for party and independent candidate agents.

· In the Eastern Cape, 19 voting stations did not open because of community protests. In all incidents, communities dug trenches to deny Commission staff and voters access to the voting stations. The Commission, with the assistance of municipalities, was able fill the trenches and anticipates that the voting stations will be open later today.

· In Limpopo, hailstorm delayed the opening of voting stations in Giyani.

· While there was no load shedding, disruptions in power supply disrupted voting in some parts of Limpopo and the Northern Cape.

· In Modimolle, also in Limpopo, an accredited observer was asked to leave a voting station for wearing a political party t-shirt. A process to withdraw the observer’s accreditation has started.

· In Moretele in the North West, a member of a political party was arrested after he interrupted the voting process. In Taung, also in the North West, the Commission has laid charges against a presiding officer after he opened a ballot box that had been sealed.

· The Electoral Commission regrets the arrest of a Newzroom Afrika journalist at a voting station in Soweto. After intervention of the Commission the journalist has been released and an investigation into the circumstances of his arrest will be instituted.

The Electoral Commission has received reports of isolated cases where voters were stopped from entering voting stations by election staff because they were wearing political party clothing and regalia. We would like to clarify that:

· Wearing of such clothing by voters is not prohibited. It is only prohibited for party agents. This information is made clear in a “Dos and Don’ts” poster provided to each voting station.

· Any voter who is prevented from entering a voting station due to their clothing should immediately report this to the Contact Centre on 0800 11 8000 – or to the Area Manager for that voting station.

We wish to reiterate the following:

· Voting will continue throughout the day until 21h00 tonight when voting stations close. Voters who are at the voting station or in a queue at 21h00 will be allowed to vote.

·  Voters are reminded that they must vote only where they are registered. They can check their voting station details by dialling *120*432# or SMS their ID to 32810. The Contact Centre on 0800 11 8000 is also open until 9pm tonight to assist voters.

·  Voters must have their ID documents with them and are reminded that each ballot paper must be stamped on the reverse.

·  Voters are also reminded that it is prohibited to take a photograph of a marked ballot paper. This is essential to protect the secrecy and integrity of their vote.

Again, the Electoral Commission would also like to remind all employers – especially those in the agriculture, retail, transport, mining and other sectors – that today has been declared a public holiday in order to allow all South Africans the opportunity to vote.  

Issued by The Electoral Commission