The IEC has proceeded to release the results for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.
This amid pressure from 20 odd parties for the commission to postpone the announcement in order and instead first attend to objections which are said to be well over 500.
IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya reiterated the commission’s earlier claim that there’s an orchestrated campaign to undermine the credibility of the election and the institution itself. This in a supposed response to the objections raised by the parties in particular their insistence that the results not be released before the issues they raised are resolved.
“There has been a concerted effort, a well orchestrated campaign to undermine not just the credibility of the outcome but that of the commission too. We’ve seen a lot of unsubstantiated allegations, disinformation and misinformation but in the end the will of South Africans prevailed,” said Moepya.
The ANC continues to lead the pack in the National Assembly, with majorities in five provinces, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, Eastern Cape and North West.
The DA has continued its dominance in the Western Cape while Jacob Zuma’s MK party has become the leading party in KwaZulu-Natal where it inflicted unprecedented electoral damage to not just the ANC, but IFP and EFF as well.
The ANC seems set to easily form a government in the Northern Cape where it is just one seat shy of a majority but the party is going to have to undertake difficult negotiations to be part of government nationally and in Gauteng as well as KwaZulu-Natal. Secretary General Fikile Mbalula already indicated willingness to work with any of the parties but vowed to reject the demand by MK for outgoing President Cyril Ramaphosa to not form part of the negotiations or the new government they may constitute.
Ramaphosa commended the IEC for “a job well done”.
“honestly I don’t know how you do it, so many people wanting to exercise their to vote,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said the outcome reflected the will of the people.