KZN Premier slams disruptions to voting process
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu has made an appeal as violent protests continue to grip parts of the province, disrupting voting today.
"Let us stop being violent, and let us stop being a disturbance and nuisance to other people's right to vote."
Mchunu was speaking shortly after casting his ballot at Brettonwood High School in Umbilo in Durban.
He says the right to vote didn't come easy.
"This is a direct subversion of democracy. This democracy was fought for, and died for. Many people were imprisoned and exiled. Others are maimed as we speak," Mchunu said.
Listen to Mchunu's full statement below.
At a midday briefing - Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says one of the challenges to voting - included trenches dug out across access roads to prevent access to polling stations.
Six people linked to the disruptions in the province have been arrested.
"In most cases, the SAPS supported by the department of transport were on standby to quickly resolve these issues," he said.
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Mamabolo said they were still working to open the affected stations.
"By 11h30, only 17 voting stations remained unopened due to access challenges. 14 of these are on the South Coast of KZN. The commission is working closely with security agencies supported by government departments to open the stations as soon as possible and as soon as it's safe," he said.
