15 held after protests at IEC centres
Police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters intimidating Independent Electoral Commission officials yesterday. The protesters were toyi-toying against a change in municipal boundaries. Blocking roads and stoning vehicles, the protesters prevented IEC officials from opening eight voter registration centres in Vuwani, near Thohoyandou.Fifteen people were arrested for public violence.Limpopo police spokesman Colonel Ronel Otto said: "People were protesting about being moved to a new municipality."Protests also affected the IEC's voter registration weekend in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and North West . But incidents were few: only 20 of 22500 stations were closed because of protests.Despite the demonstrations the IEC declared the weekend a success, with nearly a million people registering on Saturday.Voter registration nearly ruined the wedding of Shaheed Dawood and Nabeela Cornelius, according to the bride's father, Muneeb, when the Sea Point Civic Centre in Cape Town was double-booked. IEC officials quickly moved registration tables outside, saving the couple's happy day...
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