Rynpark voting debacle under scrutiny

After standing in the blazing sun and cold evening air for more than seven hours, many Rynfield residents registered at Rynpark 1 abandoned their bids to vote.

Shortly after noon on May 29, the Benoni City Times’ Facebook page was inundated with posts from frustrated voters at the polling station, claiming that despite growing numbers, the voting process had come to a grinding halt.

According to Ward 24 Clr Nicola da Silva, although no concrete figures are available, it is estimated that 3 000 votes were cast at Rynpark 1 with the last voter completing the process at 02:30 on May 30.

“The situation at Rynpark 1 can only be described as chaotic,” she said.

“Given the sheer volume of voters registered at this station, the roll should ideally have been split and another venue should have been made available.

“It was blatantly clear that the IEC did not make enough resources available to manage the expected voter turn-out. It was a mess.”

Da Silva added that due to the lengthy wait, it is evident that mounting frustration prompted voters to abandon their democratic right to participate in the 2024 national and provincial elections.

“It was disheartening to see IEC officials not employing alternative measures to speed up the process. It was evident that they lacked the necessary training to implement alternative strategies.

“Their lack of empathy towards the elderly, physically challenged and ill voters was dismal.”

She recalled how several attempts to have a sick voter moved to the front of the queue failed.

“There was a woman in line who was ill and suffering. There were numerous occasions when she nearly collapsed yet calls to capture her vote, thus allowing her to get home sooner, were ignored.

“In light of the various complaints received as well as issues observed on the day, I have lodged a formal objection regarding how the polling station was managed.”

The City Times has attempted to make contact with IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela for comment but calls and messages have gone unanswered.

What our readers said on Facebook:
• Lydia Pienaar Jankowitz: I am very upset. Are we not being sabotaged by the government? Why do I get the feeling that they don’t want us to vote? There are people in the queue for seven hours already at Rynpark 1. Unacceptable! IEC, you failed the people of SA.
• Morné Nel: I only cast my vote at 01:15 this morning after eight hours at Rynpark.
• Angelique Delport: Rynpark voting station is pathetic. Four hours and the queue moved 50m.
• Lichelle van der Linde: 07:00 to 13:00 at Rynpark. Stood in line for six hours with our three-year-old.
• Melissa Pretorius: Am still waiting to go. The queue at Rynpark takes seven hours. Hope that everyone gets to vote today
• Naomi Diedricks: When we finally got in there were more than 10 people at the table looking for names, two on tablets and they still could not find people, had to check the roll manually. They could not find most people, which makes me wonder why they even used the tablets. Was it a ploy to delay? Whoever designed that database should be fired immediately.
• Zonika Olivier: It was an absolute disaster at Rynpark. IEC officials were not doing their job!!! None of them were outside to control the queues or to help the elderly, disabled or parents with young kids queuing for six hours plus.
• Cecilea van Dyk: Six hours plus, it doesn’t matter. Voting must happen and each individual must be willing to stand there and vote because if you don’t vote then you have absolutely no right to complain about SA. Win or lose you must at least try by making your mark!

Also Read: Deputy presiding officer removed from Benoni voting station

Also Read: IN PICTURES: Benoni Baptist Church Voting Station