Pretoria voters make their mark during the National Elections 2024

18:43 – Voters are reminded that, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), any voter who is in the queue before 21:00 will not be turned away and will be allowed to vote. You will, however, not be able to join the queue after the cut-off time.

18:39 – Despite some long waiting times at some stations and hiccups at the start of the process including a lack of ballot box seals, the voting process ran smoothly in Pretoria.

18:35 – With just over two hours of voting left in the 2024 National Elections, voters from across the capital continue to make their way to Pretoria’s voting stations.

16:23 – It has not all been smooth sailing for some voters who have reported waiting times of up to five hours in parts of Pretoria including at Laerskool Eben Swemmer in Gezina.

Some of the issues which affected voting included scanners allegedly being offline and large voter turnouts.

16:16 – Pretoria residents Rita Lourens and Izak Fourie who voted at the Laerskool Voortrekker voting station, said they were happy to cast their vote.

Fourie said the process at Laerskool Voortrekker was very smooth despite the huge turnout by voters.

“I have voted previously,” he said. “And I will still vote as this is my democratic right. I know my vote will make a difference and with my vote I am making my voice heard.”

16:11 – As voters continued to make their way to the polls, some were reporting waiting times as long as three hours while voters at Lynnwood Ridge Primary School reported being done in a third of that time.
13:25 – Voting is back on track at the Glen Hoërskool voting station in Pretoria East after it had run out of National ballot papers.

Local ward councillor Andrew Lesch said that voting was back on track from about 13:00, half an hour after the station ran out of ballots.

13:22 – Voters in Akasia in the North of Pretoria making their way to the voting station.

13:18 – Centurion Ward 69 councillor Cindy Billson has reported that her ward had 1 309 special votes cast, the most of any ward in the region.

Meanwhile, long queues were reported at the Independent School in Rooihuiskraal and NG Church Wierdapark, where voters could be seen waiting patiently to vote.

13:07 – Several pensioners across Pretoria have reported a pleasant experience at various voting stations where they are being prioritised.

13:02 – Voters reported that lines were moving smoothly at the voting stations at the Choose Life Church in Moreleta Park and at Kerk Sonder Mure in Centurion. Some reported spending a little over an hour in the queues.

12:35 – Pretoria resident Hendrick von Wielligh said it was very important for voters to come out and cast their votes.

“It is an important time to vote, especially these 2024 elections. We at a turning point in this country where a lot of people know their vote will count this time.”

Hendrick also voted at the Laspossie Kleuterskool in the east of Pretoria.

12:33 – Chantelle von Wielligh, who voted at the Laspossie Kleuterskool in the east of Pretoria, has described her voting process as being very pleasant.

“It was very quick and well organised,” she said. “They helped us out with the baby so we did not spend a long time in the sun. We hope for the best outcome.”

11:37 – Voters turned out in their numbers in the Moot in Pretoria this morning.

11:25 – Gugulethu Ndhlovu, who voted in the north of Pretoria, hoped that the party which wins the elections will concentrate on youth unemployment in particular.

11:22 – Voters are urged to ensure they remember their ID documents and that they receive three ballot papers at their voting station. All three ballot papers must be stamped.

11:07 – Standing in the queue at Laspossie Kleuterskool, Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink urged residents not to let long queues discourage them from going out to vote. “Stay in the queue. Ask for a seat, ask for some water. It is only the people in the queue that can help steer the country…in the right direction.”

11:01 – Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink has cast his vote in the 2024 National Elections at Laspossie Kleuterskool in the east of Pretoria.

10:57 – Pretoria voters continue to show up in their numbers at the various voting stations. Smooth voting processes have been reported at NG Moreleta Park and Lyttelton Primary School.

10:17 – Philip Kruger, who voted in the north of Pretoria, said he was very excited to be part of the voting process.

Kruger said: “I am not sure which party is going to win but whoever is going to win must do better so that we can all benefit.”

10:12 – Long queues and waiting times of up to two hours have been reported at NG Villieria. Approximately 200 voters were reportedly at the station to cast their votes.

10:07 – A local Soshanguve ward councillor, Tshepang Boikanyo, said the Kgomotso High school block DD station opened 30 minutes late but “all is well”.

He said the only issue were some lights inside the voting station not working. “Despite this, we’ve seen a very good turnout at the station.”

10:00 – Voting got off to a very rocky start at the Muckleneuk Groenkloof voting station, according to local ward councillor Shaun Wilkinson. The councillor described the early morning voting process as “a mess” and said voting started late.

Speak to Rekord, one of the voters at the station, Brenda Thompson said they arrived at 06:45 but by 07:00 voting hadn’t started apparently because there were no locks for the ballot boxes. “The locks only arrived at 08:23.”

Thompson said she was frustrated with the voting process.

09:42 – Pretoria resident Eddy Maluleke, who arrived at the North Angelos Christian College, at around 07:00, reported that his voting experience was “perfect”.

Maluleke said, “I arrived here at 7:00, very excited to vote. The line is going smooth. I am going to vote for the right party so that there can be changes.”

09:35 – Pretoria North ward 2 councillor Quentin Meyer has reported that most of the voting stations in his ward, including Laerskool Rachel De Beer, Laerskool Danie Malan and Laerskool Voortrekker, have experience large numbers of voters and long queues. “However, everything is going well.”

Meyer said officials were prioritising pensioners. He reminded voters to ensure they received all three ballot papers.

09:31 – Moot voters can be seen lining up to cast their votes at Rietondale High School voting station.

09:24 – On social media, voters have commended IEC officials at Tygerpoort Primary school in the east for assisting pensioners. There are reportedly around 100 people at the station and the average waiting time is around an hour.

09:02 – Voters have reported an average waiting time of around one and a half hours at Laerskool Stephanus Roos. Meanwhile, long queues and wait times have been reported at NG Moreleta Park and Equestria.

08:25 – It is May 29 – Election Day! Voting is underway across the capital as Pretoria residents make their way to the voting stations for the 2024 general elections.