Johannesburg - IEC officials have reported a smooth voting day in voting stations situated at Alexandra Township, north of Johannesburg.
While voting started late at several stations in the township due to a number of delays, officials were confident that all voters will have a chance to exercise their right.
“By 9pm, everyone who wants to vote in Alexandra would have voted,” said Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) official Thobeka Dapula.
Alex is one of the oldest and congested townships in South Africa and dates back to 1912. Former President Nelson Mandela lived there when he first arrived in Johannesburg as a young man. In addition to reasonably well-built houses, it also has a large number of informal dwellings or "shacks".
Housing, sanitation and unemployment were the main issues leading to the election.
At East bank hall, which is used as a voting station, more than 50 people, mostly the youth, lined-up to cast their votes. Business is booming for food vendors who are seen selling all sorts of township cuisine outside several voting stations.
“I decided to vote very early in the morning so that I can have a chance to sell my food and fruit,” said Joseph Ndaba, a local who owns a spaza shop. Political parties that included the ANC, EFF and the DA set up their stand outside the voting station hoping to convince voters to woo undecided voters.
There was a strong police presence with armed police officers deployed in each voting station and sniffer dogs were occasionally used to prevent any dangerous material such as explosives from entering the voting station.
At a media briefing earlier today, the IEC thanked the law enforcement officers who secured voting stations to ensure conducive environment for South Africans to cast their votes. – SAnews.gov.za
