The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said “close to 99%” of voting stations had opened on time at 8am yesterday as special voting began for the local government elections, but it said 217 stations in Cape Town could not open on time because of a delay in the delivery of ballots in the Western Cape said.

“The commission has recorded close to 99% of voting stations having opened on time at 8am,” Deputy Chief Electoral Commissioner Masego Shiburi said.

“Despite the best efforts of the IEC and the printing company contracted to carry out the production of the ballots, there has been an unforeseen delay in the delivery of special vote ballots in some areas,” Western Cape Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse said.

“This only affects the Cape Metro and I want to apologise for the inconvenience to our voters,” Hendrickse said.

The IEC also reported two serious incidents involving election officials. A presiding officer in the North West “collapsed at her post and died”, and a deputy presiding officer in KwaZulu-Natal was hit by a car while travelling to a voting station and taken to hospital.

A total of 2 655 067 voters were approved for special votes, the IEC said. Stations will remain open until 5pm on Monday and Tuesday, according to the IEC.

“It is our intention to honour our mandate and make sure every voter exercises their democratic right to cast their vote,” Hendrickse said.