Malema claims failure of ID scanning machines, a ploy to extend elections

Simone Nare

Scanning machines became a source of frustrations for both voters and presiding officers in some voting stations on the first day of voting on Wednesday leading the EFF to issue a statement raising concerns about what the party perceives as an ANC ploy to extend the elections by another day.

Inside Politics spoke to two officials at different polling stations who were complaining about the failure of what they called the “VDM” or ID scanning machines to work. 

The officials blamed the “network” for the slowness of the scanning machines which forced both of them to keep moving outside the stations to try and get better reception.

However, the Independent Electoral Commission deputy chief electoral officer Masego Shiburi was quick to allay these fears, saying in the event that the scanning machines were not working, the voters’ roll can be accessed manually.

But EFF leader Julius Malema has