By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairperson Mosotho Moepya says the Constitution provides that the commission declare the outcome of an election as soon as possible after elections.
Moepya said the IEC had been dealing with more than 579 objection complaints, but that it was working to address them all before declaring the result.
He said it was “too early” to say whether any of the objections would have a material impact on the outcome of the elections.
Despite the MK party’s threats that there would be trouble if the IEC declared the results on Sunday, Moepya said the commission was confident that it would make an announcement.
“There are many people who are vested in this work, who really want this work to [come to a] close, to finality, they are invested in this thing. They are not bystanders, there are many voters. South Africa is waiting for us, [and] the markets, [there are many things] we need to take into account,” he said.
Moepya said the IEC is currently doing 20 recounts in Gauteng, three in North West and one in Limpopo, but added that they would not have any effect on the outcome.
In the Western Cape, where the Democratic Alliance won an outright majority, close to 20 parties and independent candidates have submitted a joint challenge to the result. They are citing “incongruities” in vote processing in several districts in the province.
By law, the IEC is empowered to declare the final result if it believes that it will not be materially affected by the objections lodged. Parties who want to challenge the result can then go to court to do so.
At late night press briefing at the IEC’s National Results Operations Centre, Jacob Zuma’s MK party demanded a re-vote instead of a recount.
Zuma said no one must force or rush them into believing that the election ran smoothly and now they would be released.
“Why should they rush to count the vote? I am hoping whoever is responsible is listening to what we are saying,” he said.
“I think the IEC should satisfy us that they did have a look into the matter…We are going to need time and nobody must declare tomorrow.”
“No, If that happens, people will be provoking us because we know what we are talking about. We are not guessing… We are not children, who keep quiet when you give them sweets,” he said.
Zuma said the IEC should respond to their outcry on the rigging of the elections.
Other parties backing the MK are SARA, ACC, ACT, ACP, ACDP, SUN, COPE, UDM, AADP, PA, Xiluva, CISA, PMC, AHC, AMC, ARA, UAT, AM4C, APC, Al-Jama, UIM, Sarko, ATM and OHM. The parties have given the IEC until 10pm to respond.
The EFF has publicly accepted the results on Saturday through its president Julius Malema.
The results are expected to be announced on Sunday. As the MK party was briefing the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office sent a circular saying he would participate in the IEC’s elections results announcement at 5.20pm on Sunday afternoon.