IEC dealing with more than 800 complaints from contesting parties
Briefing the media on the election results counting at the ROC in Midrand, the commission said most of the complaints relate to allegations that party agents were prevented from observing voting and counting processes.
Dimakatso Leshoro
The IEC's national results operation centre (ROC) at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
The race to finalise South Africa's local government election results is entering a critical stage, with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) now dealing with more than 800 complaints from contesting parties.
Briefing the media on the election results counting at the ROC in Midrand, the commission said most of the complaints relate to allegations that party agents were prevented from observing voting and counting processes.
While most have been resolved, about 106 remain open.
The IEC said it is making significant progress in capturing and verifying election results, with 18 municipalities having completed the process by Thursday 9am.
IEC officials said more than 23,000 of the 66,000 expected result slips have been scanned into the results system, while nearly 23,000 results have been captured.
The commission says more than 16,000 result slips have also undergone independent auditing.
The IEC also spoke about the 800 complaints it has received from political parties.
Deputy chief electoral officer Masego Shiburi said parties now have until five o'clock on Friday afternoon to lodge objections that could have a material impact on the outcome of the elections.
"There are objections that are dealt with by the presiding officer.”
The IEC said it cannot declare the final results before that deadline, as it must first consider and resolve any such objections.
Meanwhile, the commission estimates that 15.9 million South Africans have participated in the elections, including those who cast special votes.
But the final turnout figure is still pending, as the counting process must account for every valid, spoilt and discarded ballot.