IEC Chief Electoral Officer Si Mamabolo said at the National Electoral Results Centre on Tuesday evening that election-related arrests had been made in Mpumalanga and two people had been detained for allegedly interfering with IEC materials. File photo
Millions of South Africans are expected to flock to thousands of polling stations across the country on Wednesday to cast their vote in what is billed as the most important general election since 1994 and could see the ANC lose its parliamentary majority for the first time.
The two-day special voting on Monday and Tuesday, a precursor to the main voting day on Wednesday, saw the South African Electoral Commission (IEC) grapple with a number of logistical challenges.
According to the IEC, a total of 22,626 polling station and home visits were made over the two days, processing 937,144 special voters. The commission said the figures were much higher than in past elections and commended the diligence of election staff who visited voters' homes and detention centres.
However, some opposition lawmakers who gathered at various polling stations expressed dissatisfaction about the credibility of the election following unconfirmed reports that police had delivered ballot papers to some polling stations in KwaZulu-Natal in breach of electoral rules.
Several court petitions have been filed in the run-up to Wednesday's vote.
Former president Jacob Zuma's inclusion on the ballot paper as a candidate for a seat in parliament became a bone of contention between the IEC and his Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, leading to a challenge that escalated to the Constitutional Court.
Zuma had won an appeal to the Electoral Tribunal to have his name listed as MK's candidate, but the decision was overturned by the Supreme Court just days before the election.
Analysis by private security firm Fidelity has pointed to a potential security threat in KwaZulu-Natal, following a similar notice by banking group FirstRand. News 24 A threat analysis by Police Intelligence circulated on social media in the days leading up to the election also reportedly indicated possible threats to the state's elections.
The notice said police were working with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), criminal intelligence and private security companies to prevent possible violence both on election day and after the vote on May 29.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's office said in a statement that he had informed Parliament that 2,828 South African National Defence Force members would be deployed in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to prevent and combat crime, as well as maintain and safeguard law and order during the election period.
While Ramaphosa's move is not unusual, the unrest in July 2021 after Zuma was jailed for contempt of court has raised concerns about security forces who were asleep during the rioting and looting three years ago.
President Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday in what many said was a political speech in the guise of the nation's president, but he is also facing legal scrutiny after the Democratic Alliance filed a case in the Electoral Tribunal alleging he used his position in government to misuse state resources for his election campaign.
The MK party also indicated it would challenge the legitimacy of President Ramaphosa's speech, which was broadcast by all news channels, including state broadcaster SABC.
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Si Mamabolo said at the National Election Results Centre on Tuesday evening that election-related arrests had been made in Mpumalanga and two people had been detained for allegedly interfering with IEC materials.
He said there had been a “clear attempt to undermine” the credibility of the election results, as well as attempts on social media to discredit the IEC.
Mamabolo said the IEC was expecting a large turnout on Wednesday, adding that “we would be satisfied if it exceeds the numbers achieved in 2019.”
“If we hit 70 percent of the target, we should get a bonus,” he said.
This is the figure the ANC has been aiming for to secure a majority.
of Mail & Guardian Earlier, ANC insiders were quoted as saying that in a change of strategy, the ruling party was now aiming to win 2.6 million votes in Gauteng, or 54-55% of the vote. This could be achieved with a turnout of around 70% the insiders said, adding that this was something they could achieve with a turnout of around 70%.
“There are 6.5 million registered voters in the province. 2.6 million votes will come mainly from our base, so a targeted round of voting has been carried out in Gauteng township areas in recent weeks,” one person said.
The ANC national executive committee member deployed to the province added that the party's internal survey showed the party would win at least 2.2 million votes in Gauteng.
“We believe there is a chance that turnout could be below 70 per cent but surveys suggest it is likely to be 52 per cent,” he said, adding that the figure would rise in areas such as Soweto, Katlehong, Tembisa, Mamelodi, Kagiso and Sedibeng.
Last week, DA federal council president Helen Zille told the M&G that if the party and its coalition partners secured the 50% plus 1% needed to govern the country, then leader John Steenhuisen would “become president”.
The DA is hoping that with the ANC's approval rating falling below 50 percent, a multi-party charter agreement with several other parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party and Freedom Front Plus, can emerge as a coalition government to govern the country.
Ahead of the Tsela Thupa rally on Saturday, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema appeared to concede election defeat by telling media that he would accept the results of the May 29 election – a position Malema has never taken before.
“We accept the voice of the will of the South African people. Whatever the outcome, we will not have any doubts because we campaigned and nobody stopped us. We spoke to the people and nobody stopped us,” he said.
The EFF is seeking to remove the DA as the official opposition and win one million votes in Gauteng and another million in KwaZulu-Natal – enough to give it an advantage in a coalition government. The DA has said it is not interested in a coalition with the EFF.