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Vote counting expected to conclude at midnight

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With 97.6% of the votes counted by 10pm on Friday, the Electoral Commission says it expects to complete vote counting by midnight.

This, as South Africans await the final results of the sixth General National and Provincial Elections.

Giving an update on the possible declaration of the final results on Friday night, IEC Chairperson Glen Mashinini said the commission has no intention to keep the country in suspense.

“According to the Electoral Act, the CEO is responsible to conduct the elections and deliver the outcomes. The commissioners independently and as individual independent commissioners will then apply themselves and take into context all the various objections and complaints received.

“We have not yet finalised that particular process but we intend without waste of any further time to discharge our responsibility as we are required by our laws. As matters stand the plans continue on those basis,” he said.

Sample for an independent technical assurance process

In a bid to assure the country that the elections are free and fair, the Electoral Commission will receive a list of 1020 voting stations from the Statistician-General which will form the sample for an independent technical assurance process that looks at the s24A voting.

This list will be made available to political parties.

The Electoral Commission would like to express its gratitude to the Statistician-General for the assistance which it has agreed rapidly and without hesitation to provide.

Failed double voting attempts

Addressing concerns of alleged double voting by some members of the public, IEC Vice Chairperson Janet Love said while attempts were made, none were successful.

“The Electoral Act states it is a crime to attempt to vote twice. Nobody arrested was able to actually have voted twice but the attempt to do it is punishable,” said Love.

The Commission thanked the South African Police Services for their swift response in bringing alleged double voters to book. To date 22 persons have been arrested.

In KwaZulu-Natal, 17 people voted in one voting station and attempted to vote again in another voting station. All 17 have since been arrested.

In Gauteng, a female in Douglasdale was also arrested for her attempt to vote twice.

Observer missions

The Electoral Commission further welcomes the findings of a number of international and domestic observer missions that have endorsed the elections as free and fair and broadly reflective of the will of the people.

Political party cooperation commended

While the Commission expressed its gratitude to political parties for their cooperation during these elections, it expressed some disappointment.

“The Commission is disappointed by the conduct of some parties which have breached the Code of Conduct and disrupted the orderly operations within the National Results Centre,” said Love.

The Commission has written to the leaders of all the political parties expressing concern in this regard. – SAnews.gov.za

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.