CAPE TOWN - A smooth process mostly went over for a million South Africans who started the 2021 Local Government Elections by casting their special votes at the weekend.
The IEC had approved a record 1 110 257 applications for special votes - 62% increase compared to the corresponding election in 2016.
Kraaifontein resident, Annie Barens said the process went smoothly on Sunday.
“The queue was not that long when I got here, I was in and out.
“The volunteers and staff were nice and helpful,” she said.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Leah Tutu were among those on Saturday to cast their votes.
The couple voted at home during a brief visit by a delegation of IEC officials.
The Archbishop turned 90-years-old this month, and for nearly 63 of those years he was denied the vote due to the racist policies of South Africa’s post-colonial and apartheid governments.
Acting chairperson of the Archbishop Tutu IP Trust, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, who coordinates the Archbishop’s Office, said the couple would not allow their relative frailty to get in the way of exercising their right to vote.
“They are of a generation that felt the full impact of apartheid, and were denied the right to vote for most of their lives.
“They were too close to the struggle, and the Arch presided at too many funerals of struggle martyrs, to ever take this right for granted. They are acutely aware of the preciousness of being able to have a say in who should lead our government,” Dr Ramphele said.
There were some hiccups in other parts of the country as landlords reneged on their lease agreement at the 11th hour on Saturday.
According to chief electoral officer Sy Mamambolo, the incident involved landlords across various provinces backtracking on their contracts.
“Alternative arrangements were made in time and voting was not affected,” Mamabolo said while briefing the media at the National ROC located at the Tshwane Show Grounds.
Mamabolo said further the developments were a worrying factor for the IEC.
“It is a concern. But it is not a matter that requires us to take legal action.”
Cape Times