JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Special voting for South Africa's local government elections began with 2.65 million applications approved and 94 percent of voting stations opening on time, authorities said Monday.
Providing an update after voting opened at 8 a.m. (GMT 0600), the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi said the process had started off well nationwide, although some delays were reported in parts of Cape Town.
"We got off to a slow start in some parts of Cape Town. By 10:30 a.m. (GMT 0830), we were yet to open voting stations in 10 of the 116 wards," Sheburi said.
He said efforts were underway to resolve the delays and ensure that all approved voters had an opportunity to cast their ballots.
Sheburi also reported two incidents involving election officials. An IEC official was involved in a road accident in KwaZulu-Natal Province, while another official collapsed and died in the North West Province earlier in the day.
The delays at the 10 voting stations in Cape Town were attributed to the late delivery of ballot boxes following a Constitutional Court ruling ordering the reinstatement of previously excluded African National Congress councillor candidates on the ballot.
Sheburi explained that the IEC had initially planned to have all ballot papers printed and delivered by Oct. 21. However, the court ruling required the commission to reprint 33 million ballot papers, affecting its original logistical arrangements.
The IEC has approved 2.65 million applications for special voting on Monday and Tuesday. The arrangement is intended for registered voters who are unable to visit polling stations in person due to physical limitations, as well as those who will be working or outside the country on Wednesday, the main election day.
Speaking on Sunday evening, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said voting stations would remain open from 8 a.m. (GMT 0600) to 5 p.m. (GMT 1500) on Monday and Tuesday. In addition, election officials would conduct home visits for approximately 678,000 voters who had applied for special voting on grounds of physical infirmity or advanced age.
Mamabolo urged voters registered for home visits to remain at the addresses provided in their applications, noting that election officials would not make a second visit if a voter was absent.
"IEC officials will visit these voters at the addresses provided in their applications. The commission reminds eligible voters to remain at their homes during these two days of special voting," Mamabolo said.
He added that voters who missed the special voting period would not lose their right to vote, as they could still cast their ballots at designated voting stations on Wednesday.
Ballots cast during the special voting period will be sealed and securely stored at voting stations before being counted alongside other ballots after the main polls close on Wednesday. ■