While some residents may not be exercising their right to vote, there are others who have gone out of their way to ensure that their ballot is counted.
For resident, Derick Dicks, the chance to cast his vote was nearly stolen from him when he was turned away from the voting offices in Fairleigh on Monday.
Mr Dicks registered as a special voter, because he was due for a trip overseas before May 7.
“I arrived at the offices and took a seat. But when I went to take my ballot paper and vote, I was instructed to leave, as only home visits were being done that day,” he explained.
The officer allegedly did not request any of Mr Dicks’s particulars, nor did he refer to the roster for the voters scheduled for the day.
Regional Manager for District 25 Amajuba IEC, Joseph Thusi, was contacted to resolve the issue.
Mr Thusi explained, “It seems that the officer had just made a mistake and was not aware that the special voters would be voting as well.”
Mr Thusi arranged with the relevant parties, and re-opened the voting station thereafter to allow Mr Dicks to cast his vote.
He reasoned that the office had been closed for the day as all the voters scheduled to vote at the office had already cast their ballots.
“The presiding officer had not been aware of what had happened to Mr Dicks, but now we have sorted out the matter and followed protocol by informing all party members,” said Mr Thusi.
With regards to the officer who had turned Mr Dicks away, Mr Thusi added that the matter would be investigated.
Due to the sensitive nature, Mr Thusi said he would have to discuss the incident with his superiors.
However, he concluded, “The officer will be recused from further work, until it can be determined if he had any ulterior motive when he turned Mr Dicks away.
