Touring Ward 5 in Knysna

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KNYSNA NEWS AND VIDEO - Despite the weather worsening in and around Knysna as the day has gone on, party agents and voters were not deterred in Ward 5; they did not let the gloomy weather rain on their parade.

The ward is split up into four voting districts, and therefore, its voters can make use of four different voting stations, dependent on where they reside.

There was a rather lively atmosphere at the voting station in Rheenendal as the day began to wind down, while the Buffalo Bay and Brenton on Sea stations were very quiet.

It will also undoubtedly be a closely watched ward in this year's local government elections (LGE) following the outcome of a local by-election held in August 2019. In this by-election, the DA saw a major drop in support from voters, falling from 74,31% of the vote in the 2016 LGE to only 40,52% during the August 2019 by-election.

This was in large part due to stiff competition from two parties, the Knysna Independent Movement (KIM) and the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI).

Despite it being their first contested election of any kind, KIM picked up 24,63% of the votes while PBI improved on their showing in the 2016 LGE by earning 21,59% of the vote.

If you are registered as a special vote but didn't make it to the polls this weekend you need not worry, as you can still cast your vote along with the rest of the country's normal voters today. You can check if you are registered to vote in the LGE as well as where your voting station is, here (https://www.elections.org.za/pw/Voter/Voter-Information).

You have until 21:00 tonight to make your mark, so you best make use of the little time you've got left.