Mamabolo admits rocky start but promises smoother voting

By Johnathan Paoli

Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) chief executive Sy Mamabolo has acknowledged operational challenges on the first day of special voting but insisted that the process would improve as election officials gained experience ahead of Wednesday’s local government elections.

Mamabolo rejected suggestions that the commission had contradicted itself by declaring that “all systems go” despite delays at some voting stations, saying all affected stations had subsequently opened and remained operational, with closing times extended to accommodate voters.

Speaking at a media briefing at the national results operations centre in Midrand on Monday evening, Mamabolo addressed concerns after several voting stations in Cape Town opened late because of delays in distributing ballot papers.

“There is no contradiction between saying we are ready, but we are finalising the distribution process. And indeed, that distribution process was not complete in the city of Cape Town as we had wanted it