No plan for a second voting day, says IEC

JOHANNESBURG – The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has dismissed calls to extend Wednesday’s vote for a second day as it scrambles to wrap up the elections.

Thousands of voters are yet to cast their vote, more than one hour after the cutoff time.

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Gauteng, KZN, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape are among provinces still seeing snaking queues.

A higher-than-expected turnout and technical glitches have led to a lag at voting stations across the country.

Despite the challenges, IEC Chief Electoral Commissioner Sy Mamabolo said it was not possible to extend the election calendar.

“We have no plan for a second day of voting. We’ve never entertained such a plan, so voting will happen until it concludes, and until everybody in the queue is given an opportunity to vote.”

Mamabolo said the IEC had the capacity to conclude voting.

“We have a sufficient supply of ballot boxes, we have a sufficient supply of ballot papers, and no one should be turned away purely on the basis that ballot boxes are full.”