The 2016 local government elections are underway across the country.
Margie van Huyssteen places her ballots into the ballot boxes after making her mark in the 2016 local government elections, at Sunnyridge Primary School, on Wednesday.
By: GCN editorial team
South African’s headed to the polls to vote in the 2016 local government elections, on Wednesday.
The day was declared a national public holiday which allowed all South African’s a chance to exercise their democratic right to vote.
The GCN visited several voting stations throughout the city to speak to people and see how they felt the elections were progressing.
Tshifhiwa Mundalamo was thrilled with her experience in Ward 35.
“The lines were so quick and the IEC officials so helpful,” she said.
“I was also pleased with the turnout people didn’t let the cold dampen their spirits.”
Marius and Petro Kotze were also pleased with the service, “Our only complaint is that there was a woman who could not read or write, her family had to help her cast her vote,” said Petro.
“We feel she should have been helped by the IEC officials.”
Meanwhile in Ward 36 many voters complemented the Laerskool Delville voting station on its quick and efficient service.
“It has been the most organised election process I have ever experienced, hats off to the IEC officials who made it possible,” said Arlene Wilton.
Voters in the Sunnyridge, Primrose and Wychwood areas were mainly all pleased with how the IEC officials were managing the queues of people and the stations appeared to be running smoothly.
One resident, who did not wish to be named, was upset about the organisation at the Sunnyridge Primary School voting station and told the GCN they had to wait over and hour-and-a-half to get inside.
“It is totally disorganised,” she said.
The GCN entered the voting station and everything seemed to be running smoothly and the queue was moving.
Out of the many people the GCN met on their travels on Wednesday, Wychwood couple Violet (76) and Sandy (81) Naidoo were very special.
Not only were they casting their votes at Wychwood Primary School they were also celebrating the fact that August 3 was the day Violet accepted Sandy’s proposal of marriage.
They have been together for 61 years, 56 of them as a married couple.
Germiston SAPS officers were deployed to different voting stations to monitor the activities.
Brig Nkensani Lemba, the Germiston SAPS station commander, was at Ekurhuleni Primary School and happy with the manner in which the voters were conducting themselves in.
“Everything is running in an orderly manner, we are not looking for trouble,” she said.
“We have police officers at the various voting stations observing to ensure safety for all.”
The IEC’s presiding officer at the Germiston Town Hall voting station, Jacky James, said they encountered minimal glitches prior to the commencement of the voting processes.
“Unfortunately, we opened late as we had a minor problem but we managed to sort it out and everything has been running smoothly since,” she said.
“At 9am, we had already recorded 278 voters, we are happy with the way things are going.”
It was a very special voting day for Wychwood couple Violet and Sandy Naidoo. August 3 marks the day Violet accepted Sandy’s proposal of marriage. The couple have been together for 61 years, and married for 56 of them. They cast their votes at Wychwood Primary School.
Wychwood Primary School was the voting station where Jenny Koutelieris (left) and Panayiotis and Vaso Livanios cast their votes, on Wednesday, in the 2016 local government elections.
Busi Mlambo (left), Busi Mcunu, Letta Kubheka and Paulina Magugu were ready to vote at Wychwood Primary School, on Wednesday.
Sonja and Philipp Rabe show off their “voting marks” after casting their votes in the 2016 local government elections, on Wednesday, at Laerskool Die President.
William Kose (left) and Lydia and Simon Ndukulu were thrilled to have voted at Wychwood Primary School, on Wednesday.
Peter Surjan made his mark in the 2016 local government elections at Laerskool Die President, on Wednesday.
Nomsa Memela (left) and Mbalekwa Moloi were optimistic about the 2016 local government elections.
The Germiston police were also deployed to different voting station in Germiston to ensure a safe voting experience for community members. Lieut-Col Eric Khosa (left), Brig Nkensani Lemba, Lieut-Col Andy Pieke and Const Nicodemus Moremi were present at the Ekurhuleni Primary School voting station monitoring activities.
Even though the wind was blowing and it was cold Lauren and Ronald LittleJohn cheerfully waited their turn to vote at Sunnyridge Primary School, on Wednesday morning.
Rita and Vivian du Toit were pleased with their voting experience. The couple cast their vote in the 2016 local government elections at the Gerefomeerde Kerk in Parkhill Garden on Wednesday.
Mzwandile Mapete is proud to have casted his vote at the Ekurhuleni Primary School voting station.
Keeping warm and happy with the fact she voted at Laerskool Die President on Wednesday was Heila Schoeman.
Marius and Petro Kotze cast their vote in 2016 local government elections at the Gerefomeerde Kerk in Parkhill Garden on Wednesday. The church was one of the voting stations in ward 35.
Vicky Goncalus stands in line to cast her vote in the2016 local government elections. She voted in ward 36 at the Laerskool Delville voting station.
Tshifhiwa Mundalamo was so impressed with the service offered by the IEC officials at the Gerefomeerde Kerk in ward 35.
Members of the community gather and que outside the Germiston Town Hall voting station patiently waiting to cast their votes.
Harold and Priscilla West braved the chilly morning on Wednesday to make their mark in the 2016 local government elections at Sunnyridge Primary School.
Voters prepare their documents minutes before entering the polls at the Germiston Town Hall.
Chantelle Roos (left) and Elna Marais brought Wiaw (3) and HW Roos (5) with them when they cast their votes in ward 36.
Mark Woodward (left) and Jacques van Aswegen were ready to make their votes count in the 2016 local government elections, on Wednesday, at Sunnyridge Primary School.
A happy Tony and Linda De Gouveia cast their 2016 local government elections at the the Laerskool Delville voting station and were thrilled with the quick turnaround time.
Margie van Huyssteen places her ballots into the ballot boxes after making her mark in the 2016 local government elections, at Sunnyridge Primary School, on Wednesday.
Jade Lloyd brought along the perfect friend, her dog Bolt, to keep her company while she cast her vote in the 2016 local government elections, at Wychwood Primary School, on Wednesday.
Arlene Wilton took her hat off to how well the IEC officials were running the ward 36, Laerskool Delville voting station.
Joe and Tina Da Silva visited Laerskool Die President, on Wednesday, to cast their votes. The couple were untroubled by the cold morning.
Mkupheni Dingezweni felt relieved and pleased to have casted his vote at the Ekurhuleni Primary School voting station.
Tebogo Matsei (IEC election staff, left) makes sure Danielle and Jimmy Matthews are registered to vote at the Sunnyridge Primary School voting station, on Wednesday.
The country is pulsating with the 2016 local government elections today. Seen here is Edmond Maseko (left), Evelyne Maseko, Nomsa Mkhize and Ligala Aluwa who were all eagerly waiting to vote at the Germiston Town Hall voting station.
Petra and Hendrie Pienaar cast their votes in the 2016 local government elections in ward 35 on Wednesday. The couple were happy with the service at the Gerefomeerde Kerk.
Chantal Smith and her daughter Juliana Perdiz (31 months) dressed up warmly so that Chantal could vote at Laerskool Die President, on Wednesday.
Steve Davis cast his in the 2016 local government elections on Wednesday.
Quick and efficient, that is how Ian and Lynn Gwilt described their voting experience at the Laerskool Delville voting station.
