IEC says it's on track to conclude special voting despite challenges on first day

JOHANNESBURG - The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said it's on track to conclude special voting on Tuesday despite some challenges on day one.

More than one hundred polling stations did not open following disruptions in parts of the country on Monday.

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This includes several stations in the OR Tambo District Municipality in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

At one of the special voting stations on Monday, the tally of voters was at about a quarter of a million - still far off the mark of the approved special votes.

While the IEC said it was off to a good start, there were concerns that disruptions in Eastern Cape put a snag on voting.

However, IEC deputy chief electoral officer Masego Sheburi said the disruptions were few and far between.

“However unfortunate the reports are, the reports of difficulties are insignificant in the greater scheme of the challenge that we have to undertake. They represent less than 0.1% but our view is that we have to assist every voter.”

Special voting will conclude on Tuesday, with D-day for the rest of the country only a few hours away.