ELECTION NEWS - Voting in George proceeded peacefully on Wednesday 4 November, with early morning queues easing by midday, although technical difficulties were reported at several polling stations.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Chris Spies confirmed around 14:30 that no election-related incidents had been reported to police in George.
Shawn Northey, chairperson of the community policing forum (CPF), also reported a quiet and peaceful election day, with no incidents brought to the forum’s attention.
George deputy mayor and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) candidate for Ward 18, Adv. Gert van Niekerk, said voters were generally friendly and positive during his visits to polling stations across town.
According to Van Niekerk, the Moth Hall in Ward 18, where he spent much of the day, was particularly busy from early morning until about 11:00. Long queues were also observed elsewhere, but voter numbers began to taper off towards midday.
He visited polling stations in Denneoord, George South and the town centre.
Van Niekerk, who is contesting Ward 18 against the DA, said he was encouraged by residents’ response and hoped his party would attract more support than in previous elections.
“We will have to see what the outcome is,” he said.
However, Van Niekerk raised concerns about alleged incidents at polling stations in Blanco and George South, where party agents and candidates were reportedly denied access to toilet facilities. He described the situation as “unheard of”.
He also referred to an alleged confrontation between Patriotic Alliance (PA) and DA supporters in Blanco earlier in the week. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Enquiries have been sent to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) regarding allegations that party agents and candidates were denied access to toilet facilities at polling stations in Blanco and George South. A response was still awaited at the time of publication.
Smooth voting at several stations
DA's Donovan Gultig reported that voting proceeded smoothly at George Community Hall in York Street and the two polling stations at the Presbyterian Church in Ward 19.
He said the voting process, from scanning identity documents and issuing the three stamped ballot papers to marking voters’ thumbs and casting ballots, was working efficiently.
According to Gultig, there had been no queues at these stations since 10:00, and thousands of voters had already cast their ballots.
However, he reported technical difficulties with equipment at polling stations in George South, Denneoord and Blanco, where systems reportedly froze and operated slowly.
Despite these challenges, he said voting was running smoothly at most stations.
ANC expects late-afternoon increase
ANC MP Cameron Dugmore, who arrived at George Airport early this morning, said his party had not experienced any significant challenges at voting stations.
“The vast majority opened at 07:00, on time. Voter turnout has varied from voting district to voting district,” he said.
Dugmore said the ANC expected voter numbers to increase after 17:00, with the party focusing on ensuring that voters it had canvassed could cast their ballots before polling stations closed at 21:00.
“We have had to transport some voters who had relocated but are still registered at their previous address,” he said.
He described the atmosphere between political parties as generally co-operative, although he suggested there appeared to be tension between the DA and PA.
Despite reports of isolated difficulties and political disagreements, the overall picture in George by mid-afternoon was one of peaceful voting, with polling continuing across the town.
The Patriotic Alliance and Good were also approached for comment, but no responses had been received by the time of publication.
ANC MP Cameron Dugmore (second from left) and other party members in George.
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