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IEC happy with 'smooth' start to elections‚ despite protests

Community protest action delayed the casting of special votes on Monday in six municipalities‚ although a majority of voting stations opened on time in what the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said was a smooth beginning for the polls.

Three motor vehicle accidents and four minor incidents of incorrect ballot papers being delivered mark the start of SA’s fifth local government election‚ with the majority of South Africans set to cast their ballots between 7am and 7pm on Wednesday.

A record 719 222 applications for special votes were approved for the elections – including 315 597 (44%) home visits and 403 625 (56%) votes to be cast at voting stations‚ the IEC said in a statement. Special voting continues on Tuesday.

Malema pays Thabo Mbeki a visit

Community protest action led to delays in wards within Ratou Municipality‚ the North West‚ Midvaal and Emfuleni in Gauteng‚ Umzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal as well as wards within two municipalities in the Eastern Cape.

“Given the record scale of the 2016 Municipal Elections‚ the Electoral Commission is highly satisfied with the start of special voting‚” the IEC said.

The IEC said on Monday it had received 28 complaints alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct‚ 20 of which had been resolved or closed due to lack of evidence.

One complaint led to the disqualification of an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) candidate on Friday‚ the remaining seven were still being investigated. ?

 

Local elections 2016

Live results, cool maps, fierce battlegrounds: follow the local elections on our web app:http://bit.ly/2apwZKU

 

- TMG Digital/BDlive

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