EFF vice-chairman Floyd Shivambu in action. Photo: X/@FloydShivambu
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy leader Floyd Shivambu has expressed concern over the delay in the start of voting at the Moses Kotane Primary School polling station in Soweto. Shivambu said this was due to the Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC) voter roll machine.
Shivambu, who was waiting in line to vote, said he was concerned about “a disorganized system that is slowing down the voting process.”
Many elderly people expressed frustration over the delays in voting, with some even giving up and going home without voting.
Other voters said they felt that the IEC representatives were unfamiliar with the system, which led to the voting process being delayed until after 10am instead of 7am.
At a morning press conference, the IEC said the overwhelming majority of polling stations reported being open. The commission said 93% of polling stations had opened early, with the remaining opening shortly thereafter.
IEC chairperson Mildred Mabuhongo said they were aware of issues with vote management devices which forced officials to physically record names on paper.
“The ballot management equipment is not helping a lot. It's caused a bit of a delay in starting. That's what's causing the crisis,” she said.
EFF leader Julius Malema accused the IEC of incompetence and warned that his party would not recognise a second day of voting.
He said the EFF had not made plans to ensure votes would be cast overnight if the delay was granted.
“No vote can be postponed until the next day. No deliberate postponement can be allowed,” he said.
Malema added that the IEC should have learnt from the lessons of 2019 and improved the system to avoid system failure.
“The reality is the system is worse than it was in 2014 and 2019,” he said.
“Before, I would never come here and wait more than 15 minutes. I would have been around 40 polling stations by 2.30pm, but the reason I am here is because of the incompetence of the IEC and it's not just my problem, it's everyone's problem in South Africa,” he said.
The EFF said in a statement on Wednesday that delays to the vote were putting the democratic process at risk.
“The EFF hopes that there is a genuine glitch in the system and that this is not a ploy by the IEC to hold an unscheduled second day of voting and camp out ballot papers at the speaker's house,” the party said.
Shivambu said despite the delays, the party was transporting many voters to polling stations to cast their votes and boost support for the party.
He said he was confident that the party would win in his constituency.
“We are confident that we will emerge victorious in this election. A large proportion of the population will vote for the EFF and there is a positive atmosphere everywhere,” he said.