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Deafening chants of Sifuna Inkatha Sifuna Inkatha (we want IFP) reverberated outside the KwaMashu hostel polling station on Wednesday as hundreds of voters created a jovial atmosphere as they waited in snaking queues.
It was chaos as cars and taxis — many adorned with IFP banners and flags — navigated through throngs of IFP supporters.
The hostel is home to hundreds of migrant workers from the traditional IFP strongholds of Nongoma and Mtubatuba.
By 8pm the queue was still long because of technical issues with the Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC) equipment, but voters were not deterred and kept themselves entertained by singing and dancing.
IFP hostel leader Nhlakanipho Biyela said while the party was buoyed by the throngs of supporters who turned up at the polling station, it was concerned at the snail's pace of voting.
“Come 9pm, not all the people would have cast their ballots. People have voiced their frustration about this.”
Despite this they were happy with how voting had progressed.
He applauded IFP supporters, and adversaries, for a peaceful election which he attributed to meetings in the build-up to the elections.
“We agreed from the onset we don’t want any commotion during elections,” said Biyela.
They had won the support of hostel residents and informal settlement dwellers by quelling political tensions and curbing crime.
He said they met the police in October and established a forum to deal with crime.
He was hopeful the elections would auger well for the hostel dwellers as they battled joblessness, service delivery challenges and proper housing.
“We want houses and water,” he said.
Voter turnout had not dwindled throughout the day.
“In an hour not less than 200 would file inside the station. But after IEC glitches that number was reduced,” said Biyela.
Lethu Khanyile, 42, was full of praise after voting, saying the IFP party agents had made the experience worthwhile.
“I hope I will get a job so I can feed my children,” said Khanyile.
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