Results of the 2024 national and provincial elections are expected to start trickling in following a drama filled election day that saw voters complaining about being on queues for hours in end sparking allegations that the Independent Electoral Commission was deliberately trying to frustrate voters in a bid to help the ANC hold on to power.
While the commission underplayed the incidents, users shared videos on social media with concepts such as #stayintheline #asijiki and #sabottage trending on the South African timeline of X ( formerly Twitter).
“The incident referred had not been brought to the attention of the commission,” said Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo as journalists asked questions about instances of alleged irregularities during the commission’s media briefing on Wednesday evening. The IEC was also accused of cutting out voters who were already on the line, a claim it denied.
“People who are on the queue by 21:00 will be allowed to vote no matter how long it takes,” said the IEC in a social media post. Institutions of higher learning were most affected with students spending the day on slow moving queues sparking claims by the Economic Freedom Fighters that the delays were part of a deliberate ploy to frustrate and discourage young voters whom it believes are its own.
Party leader Julius Malema posted a video on X vowing to stay up until the last voter had made their mark. Malema urged his followers to stay the course warning that returning home without voting will be detrimental.
Malema himself queued for more than three hours at Mponegele Primary School in Seshego before voting alongside his wife Mantoa.
In Soshanguve some voting stations were without electricity and voters were reportedly using phones to light so they can make their choice. In Thokoza and Katlehong in Ekurhuleni police had to fire rubber bullets to disperse a crowd that stormed a voting station out of frustration.
“We have noted the frustration that you have been subjected to and that they want to demoralise you by not providing an efficient service. Do not get tired youth of South Africa you came out in your numbers. This is your future. We are only going to do it just today and secure a future for the next five years,” said Malema in the video.
Mamabolo ruled extending the election saying such a move may result in unintended consequences.
“When you extend, what happens to the votes that have already been cast, where are they going to be stored and you might unwittingly create problems,” said Mamabolo.