Voting proceeding well: IEC

[LazyLion]

By 9am on Wednesday morning 95 percent of voting stations were running, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said.

"As at 10am today voting is proceeding smoothly, peacefully and briskly," chief electoral officer Mosotho Moepya told reporters at the IEC result centre in Pretoria.

"As of 11am the final handful which had experienced delays were running."

He said delays had been caused by a number of logistical and staffing issues.

These included the late arrival of staff, late delivery of voting material and delays in access to voting stations because buildings were locked.


Source : Sapa /gq/fg/lp
Date : 07 May 2014 11:21

 

[LazyLion]

JOBURG VOTERS IN GOOD SPIRITS

Voters turned up in numbers at Blandford Manor, Noordhang, in Johannesburg's northern suburbs on Wednesday, with a snaking queue of longer than 600 metres.

As they waited, voters could enjoy picturesque surroundings of tall trees and a flowing river with ducks leisurely paddling along.

By 11am, people near the front of the queue had been waiting for over an hour to cast their votes, but remained in good spirits.

Moira Pitchers, 44, of Johannesburg North, said it was the duty of citizens to come out and vote.

"It's something we have to do," said Pitchers.

"We should be excited about it and hope for change."

First-time voter Matthew Haefele, 22, was excited about making a difference.

"I'm voting for change," said Haefele, a Johannesburg north resident.

"There's no point people sitting at home and complaining about the government if they're not going to do anything about it."

Children were playing on the grass areas near the thatched roof main building where voters made their marks.

Officials said voting had started as scheduled at 7am and was proceeding smoothly.


Source : Sapa /ms/hdw/jk
Date : 07 May 2014 11:28