Several Western Cape political parties have filed urgent challenges to the SA Electoral Commission (IEC) during the challenge period, which closes at 9pm and is set to be extended. (Lisa-Lee Solomons/News24)
- Some political parties in the Western Cape are upset with the South African Electoral Commission's handling of the vote.
- On Friday evening, the parties filed an emergency objection with the IEC, requesting an extension to the objection period, which ends at 9 p.m.
- The commission's state director, Michael Hendricks, said political parties could file objections in accordance with the electoral law.
- To keep track of the latest results, Election Map.
Several political parties in the Western Cape are furious over the South African Electoral Commission's (IEC) handling of the vote.
On Friday evening, stakeholders filed an emergency appeal with the IEC seeking an extension to the appeal period, which ended at 9 p.m.
Sixteen political parties signed a letter to the state election commission, pointing out discrepancies in the voting results in some constituencies.
Both parties claim they raised their concerns at a meeting with representatives on Friday night but received no response.
“We jointly ask for mercy until 48 hours after the last ballot is scanned and submitted for verification,” the letter said.
Parties expressed concerns about how votes would be handled, with officials saying they were not equipped to handle the number of voters.
Follow Live | LIVE: Western Cape parties challenge IEC over vote
Freedom Front Plus MP Peter Murray told reporters: “I want to know how the millions of dollars given to them by the central government to ensure efficient training of officials have been spent. If this is how elections are run then our Arab Spring is not far away.”
Marais added:
The last time we saw democracy was when the old guard of the ANC was still in power.
“The IEC says they can't give many answers. We have filed complaints but many of them go unanswered,” said Shamima Salih of Al Jama'a.
The EFF in the state filed a complaint with the IEC on Friday about the missing 100 votes.
The company claimed that the vote count should have recorded 156 votes, but one was deleted, so 56 votes were recorded instead of 156.
The ANC has also complained about a similar situation.
On Friday, the EFF's Unathi Ntame was involved in a heated debate with IEC provincial director Michael Hendricks.
Hendrikse told News24 the law, which he said had been explained to all political parties, gave them the right to lodge an objection by 9pm on Friday.
“And as explained, if you miss the 9pm deadline on Friday, the Electoral Act also allows you to apply for condonation of the late filing.”
“This has also been explained to the political parties. Needless to say, this result which is reflected in our results centre is not the final result because, as we have told the political parties, the final result will be decided by a committee which is in Tshwane,” he said.
Hendrikse said he explained to the parties that if there were any issues or objections they would have to follow the statutory procedures.
He emphasized:
You can't interfere with what is provided for by law.
He added that because a media briefing was cancelled at the last minute on Friday night, the state's IEC could not advise what time Saturday's briefing would take place.
Hendricks explained that the briefing was cancelled because issues raised by political parties needed to be addressed.