Trichardtsdal - Special voting recommenced in Lorraine, near Trichardtsdal, on Tuesday, after protests in the area, Limpopo police said.
“This followed a meeting with various stakeholders, including community members, police officials, provincial government, and the local municipality to discuss the grievances and to find a possible solution,” Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
Protesters blocked the roads in the area and stopped Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) officials from conducting special votes on Monday. The roads had been reopened.
The special votes included home visits to people unable to get to voting stations. Mulaudzi said police would escort IEC officials around the area as a precaution.
“More police officials have also been deployed in the area to ensure that voting goes smoothly,” he said.
The protesters were apparently unhappy about a new shopping mall being built in the area and the condition of roads. Residents had threatened not to vote in Wednesday's election.
Mulaudzi said a meeting would be held on Tuesday.
“We have convinced the community that we will deal with their grievances in today's meeting and we will provide more information to them.”
Mulaudzi said no further problems were expected on Wednesday as police would be in the area. No arrests had been made and nobody had been injured.
Sapa