IEC, provincial manager, Tumelontle Thiba, says three schools in that area, earmarked as IEC centres for the election, were shut down by angry residents. 

OFM News previously reported that two towns in North West, Brits and Bloemhof, received special attention from the government's Security Cluster as potential hotspots during the upcoming 8 May 2019 general election.

Tshaneng, Eckron and Katlerelo Primary Schools in the Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District have all been affected. This as protesting residents of Tshaneng near the area request that the mayor of the municipality come and address them on issues of service delivery.

Thiba says Tshaneng opened late as a result of the protests while Eckron and Katlarelo did not open its doors for voting purposes. Meanwhile, Thiba says otherwise all special voting processes in Mahikeng and other surrounding towns in the province went ahead as planned.

Earlier, residents in the most remote areas of the province threatened to withhold their votes in the national election.  Setabeng, about 100km from Ganyesa, also threatened to withdraw their votes due to issues of service delivery.

Police minister, Bheki Cele, says this follows after a series of violent protests in Bloemhof and Brits. He said the national government has already deployed state security machinery and officers to look into stabilising the situation in these areas.

OFM News/ Lucky Nkuyane and Olebogeng Motse