IEC to provide election update as counting preparations get underway at results centre
Political figures have begun arriving at the Results Operation Centre in Midrand, where attention is now turning to the outcome of the vote.
Mongezi Koko
Results Operation Centre in Midrand. Photo: Mongezi Koko
Mongezi Koko
The IEC is set to provide an update on the conduct of Wednesday’s local government elections.
The commission is expected to address some of the challenges reported at polling stations, including voting irregularities and logistical problems, as well as outline the next steps in the counting and verification of results.
Political figures have begun arriving at the Results Operation Centre in Midrand, where attention is now turning to the outcome of the vote.
The centre is starting to fill up as political figures and officials trickle in.
The commission is expected to provide clarity on the challenges experienced during voting, how these have been resolved and whether they have had any impact on the overall electoral process.
There will also be interest in the commission’s update on voter participation and the arrangements for counting and verifying the results.
Today’s elections have not been without incident.
EWN has reported on voters being turned away from polling stations in Johannesburg after waiting in long queues, as well as logistical challenges in other parts of the country.
During a walkabout at the ROC, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, accompanied by Director-General Phindile Baleni and other senior officials, provided an update on the security situation.
Masemola confirmed that disciplinary action will be taken against a KwaZulu-Natal police officer who arrived at a voting station in a vehicle displaying political party posters.
“There are some murders, as you are aware, in KZN and the Eastern Cape, but since yesterday, it’s mostly cases that are related to the elections. Either taking a photo of the marked ballot, intimidation and fighting where there is intolerance among political parties.”
Voting stations are scheduled to close at nine on Wednesday night, with the focus then shifting to the counting process and the results that will determine who governs municipalities across the country.