News Desk Reporter
Polling stations and electoral teams are gearing up for Wednesday’s local government elections, with special voting now underway across the country.
More than 2.6 million voters have been approved to cast their ballots ahead of election day. The IEC has deployed 127,000 officials to oversee the process, which includes voting at stations and visits to voters who cannot travel.
The IEC approved 2,655,067 special-vote applications for this year’s elections. This is a 131% increase on the 1,147,759 applications approved in 2021.
Of the approved applications, 1,976,542 are for voting at stations, while 678,525 are for home visits.
Women account for 64% of station-based applications and 74% of those requesting home visits.
Older voters make up a significant proportion of those who applied for home visits. People aged 60 and above account for 79.6% of these applications, with the 70 to 79 age group making up the largest share.
Gauteng recorded the highest number of approved special-vote applications, with 480,721. The Eastern Cape followed with 401,971, while KwaZulu-Natal recorded 348,971.
Limpopo had 341,623 applications, followed by Mpumalanga with 292,775 and the Western Cape with 291,866.
North West recorded 235,733 applications, while the Free State had 132,088 and the Northern Cape 129,319.
Special voting takes place on Monday and Tuesday, 2 and 3 November, from 8 am to 5 pm. Home visits are for voters who are unable to reach a voting station because of physical infirmity or disability.
Other approved voters who cannot vote at their registered station on election day can cast their ballots there during the special-voting period.
The process got under way on time at Karenpark in Akasia, north of Pretoria, where four elderly voters were waiting shortly before the station opened at 8 am.
The station had 5,318 people registered for special voting. Electoral materials had been delivered on time, and police officers were deployed to provide security.
However, the start was delayed at 217 voting stations in the Cape Metro after special ballot papers were not delivered by the scheduled opening time.
The IEC’s Western Cape office attributed the delays to unforeseen printing and delivery problems involving the contracted printing company.
The affected stations were expected to open once the ballot papers arrived. Security arrangements had been made for their transportation.
The provincial electoral office apologised for the disruption and said the problem was confined to the Cape Metro, with other parts of the province operating normally.
Special voting continues on Tuesday before voters across the country head to the polls on Wednesday, 4 November.