CAPE TOWN - While temporary structures being used as voting stations remains a challenge, no incidents had been reported by 1pm on Monday, the City's Disaster Risk Management (DRM) said.
There are 1 577 voting stations in the province, and of those, an estimated 474 are voting centres and 35 are temporary (tent) stations.
The majority of the temporary voting stations are situated in the Metro.
In its first briefing on Monday morning the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) recorded a number of challenges listing the weather conditions as high on the list, with pouring rains, risking the stability of the 35 temporary structures.
IEC provincial electoral officer, Michael Hendrickse said: “The majority of the structures are in the Cape Metro and the rain is affecting their operations. We have called suppliers to reinforce our tents and Disaster Risk Management is paying close attention in case there are any incidents.”
DRM spokesperson, Charlotte Powell said they did a flooding risk assessment on the structures
“Relating to the weather, DRM has completed a flooding risk assessment on the IEC's temporary structures. The outcome of the assessment is that we have identified two high risk areas in Phillipi East and Khayelitsha and three medium to high risk areas in Nyanga and two in Khayelitsha. There are no incidents that occurred thus far,” she said.
Hendrickse added that voting was proceeding well.
“Voting is proceeding well. We are watching the weather. Special votes also proceeded well. There were cases where people were not home and staff had to move on.”
Cape Times