Mongezi Koko28 May 2024 | 13:36

After losing his sight 19 years ago, Peter Mabote says he doesn't trust voting process for the blind

The IEC, along with the South African National Council for the Blind, have developed a voting aid which is the universal ballot template to enable people with special needs to vote in secret.

After losing his sight 19 years ago, Peter Mabote says he doesn't trust voting process for the blind

Visually impaired Peter Mabote says that the IEC has not done enough to assist, inform and assure the blind community of their right to vote independently and in secret. Picture: Paballo Lekalakala/Eyewitness News

JOHANNESBURG - As the election period is in full swing, some blind and visually impaired people have expressed a lack of trust with the voting process.  

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), along with the South African National Council for the Blind, have developed a voting aid which is the universal ballot template to enable people with special needs to vote in secret.

In some cases, this includes the blind person being physically assisted by an agent to cast their ballot.

Special voting and home visits started on Monday to accommodate people who were unable to visit voting stations to cast their ballots on Wednesday.

However, for some blind people, it's simply not worth it.

After losing his sight 19 years ago, Peter Mabote has not cast a single vote since, due to his mistrust of the voting process for the blind.

Mabote echoes the sentiments of many at the Johannesburg Society for the Blind.

"I'm not sure. I can’t see. I'm not sure if the voting agent here is going to change my decision."

Although registered for special votes, which he was due to undertake on Monday, Mabote said that the IEC had simply not done enough to assist, inform and assure the blind community of their right to vote independently and in secret.