Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairperson Mosotho Moepya says the commission has received 579 objections.
At a media briefing at the national Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Midrand late on Saturday evening, the Chairperson said he had promised to keep the media and citizens updated on the processing of results in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.
He said South Africans were anxious for the commission to complete its work and announce the final outcomes.
Moepya said there were 579 objections which the commission was dealing with and that this might increase.
He explained that the leaderboard at the ROC will “go back and forth” as the commission considers these objections.
“As we consider objections before us, there will be those that require or will implicate the reopening of edit windows for results to be corrected. An edit window is a facility that allows the commission to effect corrections where there are discrepancies.”
There are 10 window edits that have been authorised, which are opportunities to be able to align slips with captured results. Moepya said these had been dealt with.
The general themes of objections considered thus far include:
- Where results processes were not completed when objections were filed with the IEC.
- Where third parties report being informed by individuals that they voted for a specific party but this is not reflecting.
- Allegations under oath that the complainants’ vote did not reflect at a particular station but the IEC found that there was basis to investigate.
- People asking about seat allocations and what are the considerations.
- People raising matters of the conduct of a party, party agents, party supporters during the special votes and on Voting Day itself.
“We will work through everything before us carefully and thoroughly,” said Moepya.
The Chairperson reassured citizens that it will act without fear and without favour.
“We have a long night ahead of us as we seek to bring finality to these matters.”
He was confident that the IEC would be ready to announce the results on Sunday.
The Constitution provides that the IEC declare the outcome of an election as soon as possible after elections. “We have to abide by that provision, among others,” said Moepya. – SAnews.gov.za
