Out of the 1 077 complaints that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) received regarding the 2024 national and provincial elections, 17 complaints were upheld and resulted in 35 recounts at affected voting stations.
This was revealed by the IEC on Tuesday during their presentation of their 2024 national and provincial elections report to parliament’s portfolio committee on Home Affairs.
During their presentation, the IEC said Of the 1 077 complaints received, 110 complaints were deemed objections by the IEC.
Affected voting stations
Of the 110 complaints deemed objections, 85 were rejected. Eight were withdrawn and 17 were upheld, resulting in 35 recounts at affected voting stations.
The IEC said by June 2 2024 at 3pm, it had considered and decided all objections.
The objections, according to the commission, may address voting or counting processes or unlawful interference, obstruction, intimidation, or influence at voting stations.
It added that the objection deadline was extended from May 31 2024, 9pm to June 1 2024, 6pm.
The commission told the committee that three political parties challenged the 2024 election results at the Electoral and Constitutional Court.
Implementation of electoral law
“Court dismissals to date reaffirm the commission’s implementation of electoral law and that the 2024 elections were free, fair and credible,” said the IEC.
The IEC said a total of 23, 292 voting stations were open on the May 29 2024 election day from 7am until 9pm.
A total of 16, 291 516 voters cast their ballots. Which saw a 58% voter turnout, compared to the 66% voter turnout during the 2019 national and provincial elections.
Meanwhile, the commission said it has begun preparations for the next year’s 2026 local government elections (municipal elections).
The IEC said the municipal elections must be held between November 2 2026 and 30 January 30 2027.
Five year term
“In terms of the legal scheme, the term of a municipal council subsists for a period
of five years. An election must be held within 90 days of the end of the term. The end of the term is calculated from the day following the date of the last general elections.
“The elections of the current municipal councils were held on 1 November
2021. On that reckoning, the elections must be held between 2 November 2026 and 30
January 2027.
“The authority to set a date and call an election is within the statutory remit of the minister of CoGTA. In this regard, preliminary consultations between the commission and the
minister have commenced,” said the commission.
