On Election Day, voting at the Wolf River Primary School in Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape, was disrupted by local residents protesting unresolved land claims dating back to 1998.
Keiskammahoek residents close voting station in protest
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The protesters shut down the area and prevented voting from taking place, citing frustrations over unfulfilled promises regarding their land claim.
According to reports, two buildings, including the school serving as a voting station, were guarded by law enforcement authorities as tensions escalated.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reported that their staff members were intimidated by the protesters, leading to the suspension of voting activities.
One protester expressed that the community’s demands for the land claim had been ignored for years, and their attempts to get a resolution had been futile.
The resident mentioned that the province’s chief director of land restitutions, Zama Memela, had promised a meeting on 5 May 2024, which never took place.
The situation intensified when police reportedly shot at the protesting crowds, further escalating tensions.
Residents voiced their determination to continue the protests until their demands for land restitution were addressed.
This is a developing story.