Eskom assures IEC Western Cape no load shedding on election day

The Electoral Commission in the Western Cape says it’s been assured by Eskom that there will be no load shedding in this province on election day.

But as backup, generators have been procured for some voting stations.

The province has over 1,500 voting stations, including 26 temporary structures.

The IEC’s Western Cape manager Belinda Mbeleni said the provision of necessary infrastructure for these temporary stations started on Sunday.

“We are being assisted by the South African Police Service and law enforcement to ensure those services are secured and they will be available on election day, that the tents are not stolen or vandalised. It has happened before, so we have put those measures in place.

MITIGATION OF THREATS

The IEC in the province said it had contingency plans in place to mitigate any threats, conflicts or disruptions to voting.

A team of coordinators will be deployed in each region, along with 26 panellists.

Over 200 police officers and defence force members have also been specifically trained to handle tense situations.

“This is to mitigate any risk emanating from community protests where people are barred from casting their votes. So, I wish to confirm that it’s all systems go in terms of that,” said Mbeleni.

INMATES’ VOTE

Inmates across the province’s 30 correctional services centres will also be casting votes in this election.

Mbeleni said staff were trained specifically to manage this process.

The Western Cape prison population stands at roughly 13,000.

“We have liaised with the Department of Correctional Services, and all systems are in place. Political parties who will be sending their agents to observe voting at the centres have also been briefed. And they know what the requirements are.”

BALLOT MATERIALS

The electoral commission said it had all the ballot materials it needed for election day.

Ballot papers have already been distributed under police escort to all regional centres in and outside of the metro.

These centres, 24 outside of the metro and 12 within will also be used to capture results.

Mbeleni explained how this would be done.

“Our system is that the copy of the results slip gets scanned onto a system, which political parties are given access to, to view. Parties will be able to compare whether the slip on the system is the same result slip they signed off at the various voting stations.”

-EWN

In other news – Shauwn Mkhize (MaMkhize) owes SARS over R37 million in unpaid taxes

The owner of the Royal AM soccer team Shauwn Mkhize is embroiled in another tax scandal that could see her lose some luxury belongings.

The businesswoman and media personality known as ‘Mamkhize’ reportedly owes the South African Revenue Service (SARS) more than R37 million in unpaid taxes. This is not the first time the soccer boss has been accused of failing to pay her taxes. Read More

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