Elections 2024: LIVE UPDATE | Zululanders head to the polls
The ZO brings you all the live action at various voting stations as Zululanders make their mark
As voting day winds down, with polling stations expected to close at 9pm this (Wednesday) evening, issues began to surface at some stations across the region.
In KwaMbonambi, voters have reportedly been queuing for four hours at KwaMbonambi Primary School, owing to insufficient tablets at this polling station.
While the IEC in the district is attending to the situation, the commission has reported that all in the queue by 9pm will be assisted.
Other areas reported issues with the Voter Management Devices.
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Voters have reportedly been queuing for four hours at KwaMbonambi Primary School owing to insufficient tablets at this polling station. This was the scene outside the VS a short while ago. It is hoped the large number in the queue will be helped by 9pm pic.twitter.com/0StjARxw4C
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
Earlier today
It was an early start for thousands of registered voters across the Zululand region who descended on their respective polling stations on Wednesday to make their mark in the national and provincial elections (NPE).
The voting process got off to a smooth start, with some stations in Richards Bay, Empangeni, Mtubatuba opening on time at 7am.
At John Ross College, more than 200 people were already in line by 7.30am, which was also the case for Veldenvlei Primary School’s polling station as a long queue was already observed by 8am.
Except for a slight delay in the opening of the polls, it was smooth sailing with no issues reported at Veldenvlei.
Political party representatives, who were present to observe proceedings, said they were ready for a long day ahead.
Lt Col VC Pillay and Cpt Helen Odendaal, who were on duty the primary school, said election day entails long hours of ensuring peace and calm.
Arboretum residents voted at Arboretum and Richardia primary schools. Outside Richardia Primary School, a busy parking lot just after 7am indicated a good voter turnout.
With excellent management by the IEC staff stationed at this polling station, the voting process went fast and queues quickly cleared up.
Presiding officer Jainab Msomi told the ZO that a faulty VMD scanner caused a slight delay of a few minutes, but that the polls successfully opened just after 7am with no further problems reported.
According to Msomi, they were expecting just over 1 000 voters, judging by the number of people who had registered.
Voting got off to a good start at the Dube Village Church polling station in eSikhaleni. Hundreds of residents cast their votes in the three sub-stations inside. Apart from some minor political interference just before opening, no incidents were reported.
According to the presiding officer, Muzi Mthethwa, it has been smooth sailing so far.
Bajabulile Primary School, also in eSikhaleni, had issues accommodating elderly people because the voting station is on the first floor.
They also experienced issues with their VMD system, which loses network, but they have been using the manual voters’ roll to check registered voters.
ZO LIVE UPDATE | ZO consultant editor Dave Savides is at the John Ross polling station and had a chat with Leon Gerber, the first voter in line to make his mark| #Elections2024 #IMadeMyMark #SAneedsYou pic.twitter.com/xITpCCvzk1
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Early stages of election day indicate voting has got off to a smooth start around Richards Bay. There is a strong police presence to ensure it continues. ZO consultant editor Dave Savides speaks to King Cetshwayo top cop, Major General Sipho Ngubane | #Elections pic.twitter.com/p6SzUtG8Ka
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Smooth sailing at the Veldenvlei Primary School polling station as at 8am. | #Elections2024 #SAneedsYou #IMadeMyMark pic.twitter.com/ASNGduIAQZ
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Born-free and first-time voter Ntando Mncwabe (21) was excited to cast his ballot at the AGS polling station in Meerensee | #Elections2024 #IMadeMyMark pic.twitter.com/9G4QTiJbOa
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | The queue at the AGS polling station in Meerensee is moving fairly quickly as voters cast their ballots. Residents are out in numbers taking advantage of the pleasant autumnal weather conditions as they visit the stations with their pets and their children pic.twitter.com/DVQeQilPWh
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
In Empangeni and surrounding areas, voters were also up bright and early, as they trickled into their voting stations.
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Voting started on time at the Qhubandaba voting station in Mevamhlophe outside Empangeni this morning (Wednesday), with voters trickling in. Presiding officer, Ms Hadebe said they have all necessary voting materials, and all their equipment is working accordingly pic.twitter.com/cd1gWymivd
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
At the Macekane polling station, about 50 people had cast their vote by 8.30am on election day.
It was a jovial mood in eSikhaleni at the opening of the Dube Village Church polling station, where voters lined up to cast their ballots while various political parties were dancing and playing music outside the voting station boundaries.
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Voting got off to a good start at the Dube Village Church polling station in eSikhaleni. Hundreds of residents have already cast their votes. Apart from some minor political interference just before opening, no other incidents were reported. #Elections2024 pic.twitter.com/WnoplEfix4
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Njabulo Mbili, who cast his vote at Inqwaneni Primary School in KwaMsane, says the three ballot papers, a first for national and provincial elections, were not a confusion and he is fully aware how each of these will be tallied | #Elections2024 pic.twitter.com/BDTjnWXc6T
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | First-time voter, Lwandile Shandu says he had to ask for assistance from IEC officials before casting his vote at Mtubatuba Town Hall. He says, while he was not entirely sure which party to vote for, the most important thing for him is job creation | #Elections pic.twitter.com/BBa1rlq9gc
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Nonhlahla Mathe (62), who voted at Bajabulile Primary School polling station, says the most important things for her are combatting youth unemployment, development of rural areas, and provision of water | #Election2024 #SAneedsYou #IMadeMyMark pic.twitter.com/psvoeSa877
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | SAPS presence was high at voting stations in Ward 26, with police officers monitoring all stations across the region | #Elections2024 #IMadeMyMark #SAneedsYou pic.twitter.com/EjC8DssA5k
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Jacques Scalliet and Tertius Naude selling pancakes and boerewors rolls to fundraise for the NG Kerk youth ministry | #Elections2024 #IMadeMyMark #SANeedsYou pic.twitter.com/1s1PAveTjc
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
ZO LIVE UPDATE | Voting at the Grantham Park Primary School polling station, Empangeni residents Mr and Mrs Pillay advised, 'you don't vote, you don't get what you want '. | #Elections2024 #IMadeMyMark #SAneedsYou pic.twitter.com/5mVWNH0UY5
— Zululand Observer (@ZOPublications) May 29, 2024
Voting stations will be open until 9pm.
Follow the ZO social media pages for all the live action at various voting stations
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