The budget cuts that the IEC had to enforce have played a significant role in the facilitation of this year’s local government elections.

This is assessment of UNISA political analyst, Professor Kealeboga Maphunye.

He was speaking as some of the irregularities experienced during yesterday’s polls have been blamed on the IEC’s management.

This as Radio 786’s reporters witnessed various capacity issues at polling stations in several wards.

Insufficient ballot boxes hampered polling in Hout Bay, small venues and few polling booths affected voting in Lentegeur, and the rain dampened ballots and ballot boxes in Woodstock.

Maphunye says that the extra costs of conducting an election under Covid-19 conditions have also played a role.

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