​The three day elections for a new Student Representative Council at the University of Johannesburg today (Thursday, 14 April 2016) reached the halfway point, with students showing significant interest in making their mark for one of the three political organisations and 14 independent candidates competing.

Voting, which is under the control and management of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), was temporarily suspended this afternoon following attempts by three individuals to disrupt polling.

Voting resumes an hour earlier than planned tomorrow morning at 8am. Polling hours have been extended for Friday, April 15th, in order to make up for the hours lost today (Thursday, 14 April 2016).

Voting will continue until at least 18:00 tomorrow, or slightly later if students wishing to vote are still queuing at the polling stations.

Security around the polling stations has been enhanced after one student today entered a polling station and tried to run away with a ballot box, which was secured by IEC officials. Another individual tried unsuccessfully to cause damage at the Student Centre on the Auckland Park Kingsway Campus.

The IEC has secured the boxes containing votes already cast at police stations near the campuses, and will continue to run the elections on all campuses tomorrow.

Students and staff were at no time in danger and the added security to be deployed tomorrow will continue to ensure a safe and secure environment and free and fair SRC elections.