By As the dust settles on South Africa’s Local Government Elections, the Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed that the vital counting, tallying, and verification process is well underway.
Following the closure of voting stations at 21h00, polling staff ensured that every voter remaining in queues at the cut-off time was granted the opportunity to cast their ballot.
The ongoing collation process is being conducted openly in the presence of political party agents, independent candidate agents, and accredited observers. This multi-party oversight is designed to reinforce the utmost transparency, integrity, and accountability of the country’s democratic mechanisms.
Emphasizing the foundational rules of the ballot, the IEC reiterated that counting strictly takes place at the individual voting station where the votes were cast. This ensures that every single ballot paper is accounted for and documented right at the source.
Once counted, results slips are duplicated in front of agents and observers—who are permitted to photograph the slips—before being securely transported in tamper-evident envelopes to local capturing sites.
Despite facing longer ballot papers, a higher volume of contestants, and an increased voter participation rate compared to previous cycles, the Commission’s administrative efficiency has markedly improved. Data indicates that results from 18 local municipalities—amounting to 7%—have already been concluded, outpacing the 7 municipalities completed at the exact same juncture during the 2021 elections.
To guarantee absolute accuracy, the processing protocol deploys stringent quality assurance measures, including double-blind capturing, systemic image scanning, and comprehensive audits by independent auditors covering the entire population of results rather than a mere sample.
Furthermore, automated technological checks actively screen for anomalies such as voter turnout discrepancies or unusual vote variances per party at specific stations.
As of the morning update, approximately 35.5% of the 66,073 expected results slips from nationwide voting stations have been scanned, with 34.8% captured, and over a quarter independently audited.
In light of heightened public interest, the Electoral Commission has issued a firm call to action, urging political parties, independent candidates, and supporters to exercise patience.
The IEC has strongly cautioned stakeholders against circulating unverified information or disinformation, warning that false claims risk manufacturing unnecessary tension, inciting localized violence, and causing property damage.
Citizens, media personnel, and contestants are encouraged to monitor verified progress exclusively through official IEC channels, including its main website, mobile application, and the official WhatsApp channel.
