KwaZulu-Natal vote count stalls at 88% as storms and fatigue slow the tally
The IEC in KwaZulu-Natal has captured 12 601 of 14 245 expected results slips, with eThekwini and Msunduzi lagging and objections due by 17:00.
KwaZulu-Natal’s electoral machinery has counted most of the province but not all of it. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in the province has captured 88% of the expected election results slips, with 82% independently audited, as counting continues.
Provincial Electoral Officer Ntombifuthi Masinga, in an update on Friday, said 12 601 of the 14 245 results slips expected from 5 028 voting stations across the province had been captured by 12pm, and 11 694 independently audited.
The Commission says it is working through challenges affecting results capturing in several municipalities, including power failures, slow connectivity, staff fatigue and recounts.
In eThekwini, high volumes and recounts have affected progress, although capturing has been ongoing since this morning, with 64% of results captured. In Msunduzi, the process has been delayed by morning rolling-back results slips recounts, with 40% of results captured.
Capturing has continued in Msinga, where storm-related power failures were reported, with progress at 70%. Abaqulusi and Ulundi reported staff fatigue due to slow connectivity, with 63% and 64% of results captured respectively.
In Ndwedwe, a storm-related power failure on Thursday between 15:30 and 16:30 disrupted operations, prompting the relocation of results capturing to the KwaDukuza Library, which is being used as the KwaDukuza capturing site. The municipality has recorded 59% progress.
Staff fatigue was also reported in Alfred Duma due to slow connectivity, with 49% of results captured, while Inkosi Mtubatuba has reached 67%, with power failures affecting connectivity.
The Commission has reminded political parties, independent candidates and members of the public that the deadline for lodging objections under Section 65 of the Electoral Act is 17:00 today. Masinga said this relates to instances where the objector believes irregularities that may have occurred at a voting station during voting or counting may have compromised the credibility or integrity of the election.
The Commission will consider the objections lodged and issue determinations accordingly. Objections must be submitted directly to the Commission by email at S65objections@elections.org.za before the deadline.
This report is drawn from the IEC’s update as carried by SAnews (South African Government News Agency): https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/kzn-iec-captures-88-election-results-slips
