Glitches cause delays at some voting stations

By Phumlani Saul, Olwethu Nyawo and Nomalungelo Booi

Voting got off to a slow and chilly start at several voting stations in New Brighton on Wednesday, with some glitches delaying the process — including a missing password.

At Ben Sinuka Primary School, where scores of voters lined up at the designated voting station, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials did not have the password to scan IDs to assist with the counting of voters.

The presiding officer at the voting station, who declined to be named, said they had been trying to get hold of their colleagues to get the password.

“We haven’t been able to scan anyone since we started working this morning,” the officer said.

“We have been trying to call people at the office to assist us and are still waiting. But voting has not been affected.”

At Jarvis Gqamlana Primary School, presiding officer Sibuyile Hlungwini said it was mostly the elderly who arrived at the station early in the morning.

He said they had experienced network issues, making it difficult to operate the voter management device (VMD).

“The VMD works intermittently, but we are using the voters roll as back up which makes things easier because it’s in alphabetical order.”

IEC spokesperson Sanda Nodada said there were minor issues at some stations.

“There were a few technical glitches when stations were opening with a delay of about five minutes but this was resolved.”

Nodada said the voter management devices could work offline without a signal.

“They work offline to check whether a person is registered and ballots are to be issued.

“The voter’s roll is not a backup but rather it is used to check if a voter is registered as well and mark them as voted,” Nodada said.

KWADWESI RUN SMOOTHLY:

Despite threats of protests, voting in KwaDwesi went smoothly on Wednesday morning, with scores of young and old people arriving to cast their ballots.nul

A strong police presence ensured voters’ safety.

“I’m thrilled to be here today,” Palesa Payi said at the Sango Methodist Church.

“It’s important to make our voices heard, and the atmosphere has been positive.”

Protesters promised on Tuesday to shut down voting stations in the area, in a bid to grab the government’s attention.

In the Westville informal settlement, residents blocked a section of Gwancu Street with burning tyres on Tuesday, demanding long-awaited promises of houses, sewage systems and roads to be fulfilled.

They torched a bus and chased away special voters.

Ward 36 councillor Khanyisa Mani said the situation was under control.