KZN election results capturing at 88% as some areas lag behind
The IEC says most results slips in KwaZulu-Natal are captured, but storms, weak connectivity and recounts are slowing progress in several municipalities, and objections close at 17:00 today.
Most of the election results slips in KwaZulu-Natal have now been captured, but several municipalities are still well behind the provincial average, according to SAnews.
Provincial Electoral Officer Ntombifuthi Masinga gave an update on Friday. She said the province expects 14 245 results slips from 5 028 voting stations. By 12pm, 12 601 of those slips (88%) had been captured, and 11 694 (82%) had been independently audited.
Where the delays are
Masinga said the Electoral Commission is still dealing with problems that have held up capturing in a number of areas. These include electricity outages, poor connectivity, tired staff and recounts.
Progress in the affected municipalities, as reported on Friday:
- eThekwini: 64%, with high volumes and recounts slowing the work
- Msunduzi: 40%, held back by recounts of results slips earlier in the morning
- Msinga: 70%, after storm-related power cuts
- Abaqulusi: 63%, with staff tired and connectivity slow
- Ulundi: 64%, with the same connectivity and fatigue problems
- Ndwedwe: 59%
- Alfred Duma: 49%, where staff fatigue and slow connectivity were reported
- Inkosi Mtubatuba: 67%, where power failures are affecting connectivity
In Ndwedwe, a storm knocked out power on Thursday for about an hour, from 15:30 to 16:30. As a result, capturing for the municipality was moved to the KwaDukuza Library, which is now serving as the KwaDukuza capturing site.
Objections close at 17:00 today
The Commission also pointed out that the deadline for objections under Section 65 of the Electoral Act is 17:00 on Friday. Parties, independent candidates and ordinary members of the public can all lodge them.
Masinga explained that such an objection applies where someone believes irregularities at a voting station could have damaged the credibility of the election. The Commission will consider every objection it receives and issue determinations.
What this means for you
If you want to lodge a Section 65 objection, you must email it directly to the Commission at [email protected] before 17:00 today. Late submissions fall outside the deadline given in the update.
For everyone else, the capturing figures show that final results for the province depend on the slower areas catching up. Municipalities such as Msunduzi (40%) and Alfred Duma (49%) have the most ground to cover. The Commission has not said when capturing will be complete.
This story is based on reporting by SAnews.
