Croc-infested river keeps S.African voters at bay

A crocodile-infested river forced election officials to delay the opening of a polling station in Limpopo province in northern South Africa on Wednesday, the local elections chief said.

Officials running the voting station for the country’s local elections had to wait for a special army vehicle to ferry them across the perilous Olifants River, delaying the poll opening by two hours, provincial election officer Nkaro Mateta said.

“It is really quite dangerous. If you cross on foot then you will be attacked by crocodiles,” she told AFP.

“The locals use a man-made cable car. It’s so risky.”

Mateta said the 300 to 400 registered voters in the area were all notified of the delay.

Another station “on top of a mountain” also opened two hours late because a helicopter had to be used to bring election staff there, she said.