/ 14 April 2004

Early birds vote in Westdene

Voting in at least the central western part of Johannesburg looked set to be off to a slow but steady start, if observations at one voting station were representative.

A Sapa reporter, who went to vote at the Westdene Recreation Centre, saw police and officials in place shortly after 6am but not many voters.

A few cars stood outside, a ward councillor was making last minute plans, two police officers were manning the entrance to the voting station, and a trickle of about 50 voters were making their way to stand in line at the door of the voting station, in this mostly white, middle-class neighbourhood.

Voting officials were expecting both a first and a last minute rush from those keen to get their ballot in the box early and again when returning holiday makers surged to the polls along with others who left voting to the last minute. – Sapa