The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in KwaZulu-Natal has made significant progress in capturing election results, with 35% of the results captured and 25% audited. According to provincial electoral officer Ntombifuthi Masinga, the counting process is progressing well across the province, with no major challenges reported. The commission has completed the auditing process for two municipalities, Ndumeni and uMhlathuze, and their seat allocations have been finalized.
The province has a total of 144 municipalities, with 142 still to complete the process. Masinga emphasized that results have to be audited by an independent auditing firm before being made available on the IEC's results leaderboard. The audit process checks whether the results captured on the commission's system match those recorded at voting stations. This process is crucial in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the election results.
Political parties have until 5pm on Friday to lodge objections under Section 65 of the Electoral Act, provided these have a material impact on the election results. The commission will investigate the objections and inform those who lodged them of its decisions before the official results announcement scheduled for Sunday at 6pm. Masinga assured that the commission is working diligently to complete the process and announce the final results.
KwaZulu-Natal recorded a voter turnout of 49%, compared with the national average of 45%. Masinga expressed satisfaction with the province's turnout, noting that the commission had hoped to surpass the 50% mark. The province's turnout is one of the highest in the country, indicating a strong interest in the electoral process.
The IEC also addressed some challenges that arose during the voting process. Parts of eThekwini experienced electricity outages on Wednesday, affecting wards 94 and 96. However, the problem was resolved within an hour through collaboration between Eskom and the eThekwini Municipality. The intervention helped ensure that voting was not significantly disrupted and assisted voters who had been unable to cast their ballots during the outage.
The IEC expressed condolences to the family of an elderly woman who collapsed at a voting station in Shallcross, Ward 172, in eThekwini on Wednesday. The woman was rushed to hospital but later died. Masinga confirmed that the voter had not applied for a special vote and had opted to physically visit the voting station to cast her ballot. The commission is investigating the incident and offering support to the family.
The commission aims to complete capturing the results by the end of Thursday, with the official announcement scheduled for Sunday at 6pm. Masinga expressed confidence that the process will be completed on time, and the final results will be made available to the public. The IEC's efforts to ensure a smooth and transparent electoral process have been commended by various stakeholders.
Key points
- The IEC has captured 35% of KwaZulu-Natal's election results, with 25% audited.
- The province has recorded a voter turnout of 49%, compared with the national average of 45%.
- The commission aims to complete capturing the results by the end of Thursday, with the official announcement scheduled for Sunday at 6pm.
