It is alleged residents in this town are up in arms over the lack of service delivery, among other issues. The IEC in the province confirms that elections in this small farming town with a population of over 20 000 have been affected and that the police had to escort the electorate officials out of the town earlier.

The spokesperson for the electorate in the Free State, Mmabatho Rasengane, tells OFM News that 12 voting stations in this town did not open due to protests.

She, however, mentions that contingency plans are set to be put in place in this town.

Rasengane added that more than 100 police officers and 50 members of the SANDF have been trained in the province as part of their contingency plans and she is confident that security measures across all the towns where there have been sporadic protests are being beefed up.

Meanwhile, the situation in Viljoenskroon, where unrest broke out yesterday during special votes, has returned to normalcy.

The unrest in this town saw a community hall, set to be a voting station and a local clinic, set alight by angry protestors.

SAPS’ Motantsi Makhele has confirmed to OFM News that 24 people have been arrested in connection with the torching of the community hall and the clinic and are expected to appear in court tomorrow.

OFM News