Residents of Limpopo’s Vhembe District cast their votes

Some people were turned away at a voting station in Vuwani in the Collins Chabane municipality in Limpopo after their names were not found in the voters’ roll.

The 2016 and 2019 elections in Vuwani were marred by violence due to a municipal demarcation dispute.

Pensioners who went to Avhatondwi primary school as early as 5 o’clock in the morning were among those affected. Pensioner Jane Molewa Khosa was the first to cast her ballot at Avhatondwi secondary.

Khosa says she is happy that she could vote in a peaceful environment. “I am very  excited to enter this gate to come here to vote at Avhatondwi Primary voting station, we have had ten years without voting here because of violence there and there.”

At Vhudzani Secondary at Ha-Mashau village, a number of youths could be seen voting.

“I  feel happy today so I look forward to the municipality to help us with schools, roads, and water, I feel much better as a young person here at Vhudzani Secondary School that we have been given an opportunity to vote for a better future and more job opportunities.”

However, some voters were however disappointed as they were told their names are not on the voters’ roll at the station.

“We came and register here but today we are surprised that we are told to go back to our original place of Tshirunzanani, the problem is that  the old lady will have to walk as she does not transport.”

There were reports of vandalism at the voting station at Gogobole Primary School outside Thohoyandou on Sunday evening.  But voting continued as normal on Monday.

South Africans are today casting their votes in the Local Government Elections: