On Election Day, South Africa experienced various disruptions at polling stations, affecting the voting process. From service delivery protests in the Eastern Cape to issues with voter management devices in the Western Cape, challenges were faced nationwide.
In the Eastern Cape, protests led to the closure of five voting stations, delaying the voting process. In the Western Cape, glitches in the voter management devices caused long queues. Amidst these challenges, confrontations at certain voting stations were also reported.
Meanwhile, in the North West, incidents of obstructing IEC officials and theft of IEC property were reported. In Gauteng, late ballot paper arrivals and incidents of intimidation were noted. KwaZulu-Natal faced attempts to interfere with the IEC’s work, and the Free State experienced ballot paper issues at a voting station.
Despite these disruptions, Limpopo reported no significant disturbances on voting day. The elections highlighted the resilience of South Africans in exercising their democratic right amidst various challenges.