With special voting underway, Home Affairs branches to stay open until 7pm on Monday
The extension falls on the first day of special voting aimed at enabling voters who are unable to get to their polling stations on Wednesday to cast their ballots.
Special votes are in full swing at Home Affairs Departments countrywide with doors being kept open until 7pm tonight. Picture: Mongezi Koko/ Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - With special votes in full swing, Home Affairs departments countrywide will open their doors until 7pm on Monday.
The extension falls on the first day of special voting aimed at enabling voters who are unable to get to their polling stations on Wednesday to cast their ballots.
At the weekend, the department announced the extension, which focuses primarily on the issuing of temporary identity documents during this election period.
On a normal day, the Home Affairs Department in Randburg averages a waiting period of at least an hour.
On Monday, this custodian of identity and status of citizens is packed to the rafters, with some people estimating their wait time to be as long as three hours.
Upon entry, queues stretching to the entrance can be seen from the main road. There are also dozens of idling cars hoping to gain access to the already packed parking lot.
Members of the community beaming with excitement to cast their ballots are enduring the hours-long wait.
The management here told Eyewitness News that all staffers were at work and performing their duties in hopes of improving the waiting time.
Home Affairs branches will close at 7pm on Monday and Tuesday night and at 9pm on Wednesday evening.