Social media has become a huge part of our everyday life; it is only natural that yesterday’s National and Provincial elections would make an appearance.
The GCN took to our Facebook and Twitter pages to interact with community members visiting the polls.
One of the questions posed was: Do you feel your voting station was well organised?
Morné Kriel was one of the first people to respond.
His voting experience was set back by poor organisation at the voting station he was at.
He told the GCN, “No.
“It is 7.30am and officials have just informed us the ID scanner is faulty.
“Really?
“What type of service is this?”
The rest of the comments on the organisation of voting stations throughout Germiston were positive.
June Richards Brighton commented: “We had a little problem with the scanners and ballot papers arrived a little late, but they sorted everything out in Primrose and all went well.
“The staff was also very friendly.”
“Dinwiddie High had long queues but it was still a pleasure to vote there,” said Warren Rheinhard.
Gerhard Vatti van Zyl was impressed with his voting experience and said: “Well organised and friendly, too.
“Pensioners and the disabled were taken to the front so they could vote first.
“Well done.”
Another talking point was how long voters had to wait before being able to cast their vote.
“I probably waited about half an hour, not too bad,” said Malinda Markham.
Brianne Bousfield said: “I voted at Sunnyridge Primary School and waited about two hours, but it went quick and really didn’t feel like a two hour wait.
“I feel the process was also very well organised this time.
“Glad to see that officials let the elderly people, the pregnant women and disabled people go first.”
“I voted at the Makause informal settlement, I waited five minutes because I am injured.
“The service was really good,” said Bekifa Sambo.
Tina Moodley told the GCN: “We took 10 minutes.
“The service was fantastic at Primrose Primary School.
“It was also a big occasion with my daughter casting her first vote.
“Such a proud moment.”
We then asked the community: How did your voting experience go?
While most agreed it was a great experience and they couldn’t wait to see the results, some did not have a good experience.
One such comment came from Karen Allan-Grainger, who told the GCN: “The election staff at Germiston High School didn’t get their happy pills this morning – rather a lethargic and sad bunch.
“But the station was almost empty at 4.30pm, as opposed to Delville Primary School, that had a long queue for most of the day.”
“Our voting station opened at 7.30am, because there were no pens,” said Martin Botha.
“The ID scanners’ batteries then went flat and we had to wait for new ones to arrive.
“When the scanners were finally fixed the staff did not know how to work with them.”
The GCN will strive to keep the community up-to-date on the latest results from the polls.
