The Free State was affected by the heavy rains on Saturday, thus delaying the voting registration process.  

IEC Manager, Itumeleng Liba said that parts of the eastern Free State were affected by heavy rains and strong winds, which had affected access to voting stations owing to flooding roads. Liba said tents were re-pitched and registering voters eventually then regained access to voting stations with the help of disaster management teams and security agencies.

Meanwhile, while the Electorate also said that proceedings went well for the most part in the province, it also faced challenges with communities that would not allow voting registrations to take place unless the respective municipalities deal with the service delivery issues faced at these communities and towns. Two protests were recorded in the Free State's Bloemfontein and Sasolburg towns.

Rustenburg in the North West and Barkly West in the Northern Cape were among those also affected by protests in Central SA. IEC Manager in the Northern Cape, Bonolo Modise, said on both Saturday and Sunday, the community of Ditlhakong in Barkly West would not allow the IEC teams to register voters despite the team's best efforts to negotiate with the community leaders, even involving the police in this process. Meanwhile, protesters in Rustenburg said unless the municipality deals with its water shortages, they would neither allow residents to register for votes nor vote in the elections which will take place in May later this year. 

OFM News could neither reach the IEC Manager in the North West nor the electoral officer for comment.

OFM News