Whilst other municipalities across the country are planning security for any possible disruptions, municipalities in the Northern Cape are relaxed and hope that residents will turn out in their numbers to cast their votes. 

The provincial spokesperson for the IEC, Elken Topken, tells OFM News that they have had no reports indicating any threat to the municipal elections. An expected 623 000 registered voters will cast their votes at 728 voting stations. Topken says the province is not known for hotspots or no-go areas and says they are ready and geared up for these elections.

"All 728 voting stations will open and we have about 6 000 staff engaged in the field to manage the elections. Of the 6 000 staff, we have 232 area managers who will criss-cross the voting districts and they will be there to ensure that things are in place. If ballots need to be carried from one voting station to the next one they are there to do it," he adds.

Topken says the conflict panellists who usually deal with electoral conflicts have also been roped in. On Monday, thousands will join millions of South Africans to make their mark on ballot papers. About 623 000 registered voters in the province are expected to cast their votes at 728 voting stations which are open from 07:00 to 21:00.

These are the ninth municipal elections since the dawn of democracy in 1994 and different political parties such as the EFF, ANC, DA, Freedom Front Plus, Good party and Sol Plaatje Forum for Service Delivery will go head-to-head for seats in municipal councils. Municipalities such as the Kimberley-based Sol Plaatje have recently faced sporadic violent protests with residents voicing their dissatisfaction with the lack of service delivery, corruption, and fraud

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Blaine Jones