Voting chaos hits Cape Town as missing ballots disrupt 217 stations

A major logistics failure left 217 voting stations across the Cape Town metro unable to open on time on Monday morning as election officials scrambled to deliver missing special vote ballots.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) confirmed that printing and distribution hold-ups prevented operations from starting as scheduled at 8am at stations across 33 affected wards in the metro.

IEC apologises

Western Cape provincial electoral officer Michael Hendrickse attributed the widespread disruption to an unforeseen delivery setback between the commission and its contracted printing partner.

Acknowledging the frustration caused to citizens, Hendrickse issued an official apology.

“I want to apologise for the inconvenience to our voters. Reports confirm that voting stations in the outer regions of the province are operating smoothly.”

Hendrickse emphasised that the logistical bottleneck remained strictly isolated to the Cape Metro, noting that officials were opening voting stations dynamically as ballot shipments arrived at individual sites.

Frustration mounts over turnaway of elderly voters

Residents and local leaders expressed sharp criticism after voting stations turned away eager voters – many of whom were elderly residents who had made special arrangements to cast their ballots early.

Highlighting the dismay on the ground in Kraaifontein, community worker Beryl Williams told News24,

“My friend who applied for special votes in Kraaifontein contacted me to say that people had to turn around, and the IEC informed people that the ballot papers were not delivered.

“This is so unprofessional; many elderly people had to turn around and were told to come back on Tuesday. It’s unacceptable.”

Kraaifontein Community Policing Forum chairperson Gavin Riddles echoed these concerns, telling News24 that forcing elderly residents to travel further risks disenfranchising voters who may choose not to return.

Wards with no ballot papers

Data released by electoral authorities details the breakdown across 217 Voting Districts (VDs) spanning 33 wards:

• Kraaifontein:

  Wards 101, 102, 103, 105, 111, and 112 (36 VDs)

• Atlantis:

  Wards 70, 104, 107, 113, and 117 (31 VDs)

• City Bowl:

  Wards 53, 55, 92, and 115 (26 VDs)

• Khayelitsha:

  Wards 87, 91, 95, and 118 (28 VDs combined across two sub-areas)

• Wynberg:

  Wards 65, 66, and 67 (23 VDs)

• Constantia:

  Wards 58, 59, 62, and 73 (21 VDs)

• Delft:

  Wards 25 and 106 (17 VDs)

• Athlone:

  Wards 48 and 52 (14 VDs)

• Guguletu:

  Ward 46 (8 VDs)

• Philippi:

  Ward 80 (7 VDs)

• Strand:

  Ward 90 (6 VDs)

Despite the initial setbacks, the IEC assured voters that security measures were protecting ballot transit routes and affirmed that the designated two-day special voting window (2-3 November) would give all registered voters enough time to cast their ballots.