With over 98% of vote capturing completed, as at 11h00 on 1 June, the IEC says it will be addressing all objections from political parties today (Saturday), and will officially announce the final National and Provincial Election results at 6pm on Sunday.
It has proven to be a watershed election, as the ANC has lost its National majority for the first time since 1994.
There is plenty of uncertainty as coalition talks will have to be held.
The DA has retained it’s outright majority in the Western Cape, although in some districts the ANC and PA has shown strong results.
Several political parties in the Western Cape have lodged an objection with the IEC regarding alleged irregularities in the vote counting process. This as the processing of votes in the province nears completion. (As at 03h00, 1 June)
Parties had until 21:00 on Friday night to lodge objections.
There are claims that votes meant for smaller parties were not allocated and/or counted correctly.
🗳️Elections Results🗳️
EFF WESTERN CAPE REGISTERS ITS GRAVE CONCERN WITH THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION (IEC) REGARDING IRREGULARITIES WITH THE CAPTURING OF THE ELECTIONS RESULTS#GeneralElections2024 pic.twitter.com/SshbOSucwC
— EFF_Western Cape (@EFFWesternCape_) May 31, 2024
This as the DA surpassed 1 million votes in the Western Cape, with a 55% majority.
With 97% of vote capturing completed and processed in the Western Cape, as at 03h00 on 1 June, this is what the results look like on the Provincial ballot:
With 95% of the National Ballot processed and captured, as at 03h00 on 1 June, this is what the National results look like:
The IEC’s Results Dashboard can be accessed HERE.
Chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo declared that the counting process at all voting stations nationwide has concluded.
At this stage, it’s capturing that is being done.
The Northern Cape is the first province to have completed its capturing process. This is closely followed by the Free State while the Western Cape is currently at 88%.
The Chief Electoral officer in the Western Cape Michael Hendrickse says all voting stations have now wrapped up their work in terms of the vote counting process, and the remaining votes are now being audited and captured on the system.
70% of votes in the province has already been captured. There are a few outstanding voting district that have yet to send through their results slips, mainly in the Metro.
Hendrickse says they are making a final push to finish today:
In the Western Cape, nearly 70% of the vote count for the provincial ballot has been completed. (As at 05h00, 31 May)
The IEC’s provincial head, Michael Hendrickse, says staff got a few hours sleep last night, and will resume Friday morning to complete the task a hand.
With a clearer picture emerging of the provincial ballot, the DA has declared a victory, with just over 54% of the vote as of 05h30 on Friday morning.
There are still several voting stations that still have to send through their final result slips to the IEC, but the DA is celebrating an outright majority.
The ANC is on about 19% of the vote in the Western Cape, while the Patriotic Alliance has just under 10%.
It’s currently quiet here at the result centre, but excitement is set to build up during the day as it’s expected most of the counting will be completed today.
Nearly 52% of the votes has been counted on the National Ballot, which accounts for just over 7 million voters as at 06h00 on Friday morning 31 May.
We are back at the IEC's Provincial Results Operation Centre, where nearly 70% of the vote count for the WC Provincial Ballot has been completed. #Smile904fmnews #Elections2024 pic.twitter.com/OAQbZDoy5X
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 31, 2024
The DA has already claimed a victory in the Western Cape.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says it does seem that the DA will retain power in the province.
He has also expressed optimism that the ANC will not retain the majority on the National front.
We also caught up with Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis pic.twitter.com/7J1FxGl4zb
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 30, 2024
The Chief Electoral Office in the Western Cape Michael Hendrickse says there is still “a way to go in getting final results through”.
During a press briefing at the IEC’s operation centre in Cape Town on Thursday, Hendricks said as of 15:10, there were still 10 voting districts in which counting needed to be completed.
He says the hope to have counted at least half of the votes by the end of today.
To follow results as they come in visit the IEC’s LIVE results dashboard.
🚨The counting of ballots occurs at the voting station where the votes are cast.
Party agents, independent candidate agents, and observers oversee the entire counting and results process and are present at all times. Here's how the counting process will unfold until the results… pic.twitter.com/xz2FXKqrJ8
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 30, 2024
To everyone who waited in line to vote 🗳️: thank you for your patience. And a special thank you to the thousands of IEC officials and stakeholders who made #SAelections24 happen, we see you. We could not have done it without you. It's your democracy, own it! 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/lUmX2F0T56
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 30, 2024
The Chief Electoral officer in the Western Cape Michael Hendrickse has apologised to voters who had to endure several hours in the queue at their voting stations yesterday.
Hendrickse says alot of introspection will have to be done, as the voting process frustrated many.
Hendrickse says a combination of factors resulted in the long delays, including possible organisational issues.
The Voter Management Devices, used to scan people’s ID’s was also faulty at many voting stations. He says once he issued an order that IEC staff move to the manual voters roll, the queues started moving faster.
Hendrickse says they will also have to look whether there was adequate training for IEC staff before the elections.
Vote counting is underway with results trickling in to the IEC's Provincial Results Operation Centre. DA Premier candidate Alan Winde has also arrived. #Elections2024 #Smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/u4PdOymauZ
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 30, 2024
Vote counting in the 2024 National and Provincial Election began late into Wednesday night as thousands of people across the country were still queuing to make their mark at 9 pm.
Here in the Western Cape the IEC says some voting stations only wrapped up the voting process at 2 am Thursday morning.
Results will slowly start trickling in, and political parties have set up shop here at the Provincial Results Operation Centre in Century City to monitor the results dashboard.
Once voting stations are closed, and every voter in the queue has been assisted, each polling station across the country will go on lockdown and staff will start counting the ballots – through the night.
The first results will come through from Robben Island – due to it being the voting station with the lowest number of voters.
Results for the rest of the country will only start trickling in in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The IEC says it aims to declare the election results by Sunday, but it has 7 days in which to announce the results, should there be delays.
The Deputy Chief Electoral officer of the IEC Mashego Sheburi says despite long queues at voting stations caused by technical difficulties, and some voting stations not opening on time, every voter in the queue will be assisted today.
Voters who are still in the queue at 9pm can be assured of getting assistance.
Sheburi says 94% of voting stations did open on time this morning.
He says Voter Management Devices at many stations have not been working, adding to the delays.
Faeez April is outraged because he says he registered to vote, in Mitchell’s Plain when he moved from LH. He was however denied after queueing and was denied again, now, at his old voting station. He is giving up because he has travelled far and is tired of queueing. pic.twitter.com/vmUTMUBSNw
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
In Lavender Hill is Joan Everson (72). She became blind 15 years ago, after a gangster threw acid into her eyes. The incident happened because she was working with SAPS to eradicate guns & drugs in her community. #smile904fmnews #elections2024 #electionday
🟡In Lavender Hill is Joan Everson (72). She became blind 15 years ago, after a gangster threw acid into her eyes. The incident happened because she was working with SAPS to eradicate guns & drugs in her community. #smile904fmnews #elections2024 #electionday 🎥📸: Lizell Persens pic.twitter.com/UJCgurZKpy
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
Deputy IEC CEO Mashego Sheburi has given the assurance to voters that everyone who is in the queue at their voting station at 9pm tonight will be assisted to vote.
This as delays in voting are being experienced countrywide. Sheburi says some voting stations did not open on time this morning, but 94% of polling stations did open at 7am.
There is also widespread reports of the Voter Management Devices not working. These are used to scan people’s ID’s. Staff are now relying on the voters roll to manually check off voters instead, which is adding to the delays.
Meanwhile, with the high temperatures experienced in Cape Town, the City says this could have an impact on residents who are queuing for a long time at voting stations.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management department has urged voters to stay hydrated and to keep cool.
”We encourage residents to take water with them to voting stations as well as an umbrella, camp chair, wet wipes and salty snacks to replace electrolytes being lost through excessive sweating.”
🟡In the Westlake township, people say they are desperate for change. #smile904fmnews #elections2024 #electionday
. 📸🎥: Lizell Persens pic.twitter.com/0uYHW4bIkq— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
🟡In the leafy suburb of Constantia, queues are snaking at the Constantia Primary School. Hundreds of residents are lined up to cast their ballots. Images and video by Lizell Persens #smile904fmnews #electionday #elections2024 pic.twitter.com/rczZpsUtVU
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
Jacqueline Harris and her husband say it took them more than 3 hours to vote. Harris is disgruntled, as she says it was an unpleasant experience.
“It is very slow, very inefficient and communication is bad” pic.twitter.com/12xNhS7abz— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
The IEC in the Western Cape says there has been protest action reported at voting stations in Phillipi and Ocean View this morning.
Additional sources from the SAPS have been deployed to monitor and control the situation.
49 hotspot areas have been identified in the metro.
There was also a shooting incident in the Manenberg area this morning. The shooting was not at the voting station and is believed to be gang related, but police are on scene.
The queue at Bastion High voting station in Protea Heights, Brackenfell. #ElectionDay #Smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/EENn878IVf
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
The IEC in the Western Cape says not all voting stations in the province opened on time this morning.
Chief Electoral officer Michael Hendrickse says the last of the province’s 1572 polling stations opened by 7:45 on Wednesday morning.
Hendrickse added that not all Voter Management Devices (VMD) were working at Western Cape voting stations.
But staff have been briefed on how to reboot the system and revert to the hard copy voters roll in cases where the reboot fails.
Hendrickse says “voting will continue until the last person in the queue has been assisted”.
The queue at Stephanian Ottery AFC voting station. #ElectionDay #Smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/PEG0KIz3Cf
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
Outside the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk in Bellville. Scores of voters queue outside to make their mark. #smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/rp3HpPyLIn
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
President Cyril Ramaphosa has voted in Chiawelo in Soweto. He has encouraged all South Africans to go out and make their mark.
He also expressed confidence that the ANC would get the majority of the vote.
[WATCH] President Cyril President Cyril Ramaphosa, after casting his vote in Soweto, says he firmly believes the people will give the ANC another chance to lead South Africa.#Newzroom405 #Vote24 pic.twitter.com/1Upvr30es2
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 29, 2024
Police Minister Bheki Cele says voting is off to a relatively smooth start, besides isolated incidents in the Eastern Cape:
#PoliceMinistry Following his vote at the Lamontville High School, Police Minister, General Bheki Cele briefs the media about the countrywide picture of #ElectionsSafety following his meeting with Provincial and National management of the SAPS this morning. #SAelections24 ML pic.twitter.com/0Ck0cb0IFp
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 29, 2024
Extremely long queues have been reported in various areas. This is Parklands at around 9:30 am. #electionday2024 #Smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/BWaw5WFkFq
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
Alan Winde, who is hoping to be re-elected as Premier of the Western Cape has appealed for patience, as long queues are being experienced across the province this morning.
Winde has himself been waiting in the queue since before 8 am, at the Jan van Riebeeck High School in Cape Town.
The DA has expressed confidence that they can retain power in the Western Cape.
Voting is also progressing well in other parts of the country.
Long queues have been reported across the Western Cape this morning as voters decided to pitch up early to their voting stations to mark their mark in the 2024 National and Provincial Election.
DA Leader in the Western Cape Tertius Simmers says reports indicate voting is running smoothly thus far. He says he is encouraged by the many young voters that have turned up at voting stations across the province.
Premier Alan Winde is voting at the Jan van Riebeeck High School in Kloof Street. He stood in the queue with other voters.
Alan Winde is patiently waiting in the queue with other voters here at Jan van Riebeeck High. The queue is getting longer as the morning progresses. #ElectionDay #Smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/E6M2x1YQPC
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
Queues of up to a kilometre long has been reported in places like Brackenfell. #southafricanelections #Smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/XPHuFZdh94
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
Alan Winde has arrived with his family to vote at Jan van Riebeeck High School. It is not a certainty that the DA will win an outright majority, but they are hopeful. #Smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/xMyza3aURM
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
Voters have been streaming in to Jan van Riebeeck High School in Cape Town, where Premier Alan Winde will also vote at 8 am. #Smile904fmnews pic.twitter.com/n5h3PW4iyJ
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) May 29, 2024
The IEC in the Western Cape says it’s all systems go for elections today, 29 May 2024.
Millions of South Africans will be heading to the polls today, to vote for the 7th administration.
There are just over 3,3 million registered voters in the Western Cape, more than 2 million of them are due to cast their ballots in the City of Cape Town Municipality.
The province’s electoral officer Michael Hendrickse says officials are ready to welcome voters from 7am until 9pm tonight.
Meanwhile, the IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo has reminded citizens they will get three ballot papers, namely the National, Regional and Provincial Ballot, and each will have a different colour.
The National Ballot is Blue, the Regional ballot is brown and Provincial ballot is pink.
#KnowYourBallots before you go vote. Don't forget your SA ID, and vote at your registered station. One ballot, one mark. Learn more: https://t.co/swA1CdjFK2 #SAelections24 pic.twitter.com/Or65WLB8Yd
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 27, 2024
Mamabolo has also appealed to voters to only make ONE mark on each ballot.
Nearly one million South Africans cast their ballots during the first two days of special voting on Monday and Tuesday.
The special voting was marred by a few incidents, notably the taxi blockade in Mthatha on Monday and alleged tampering of ballot boxes in Mpumalanga.
During a briefing last night, Mamabolo said two people were arrested in Mpumalanga, and another person was still at large.
Media Briefing :Update on day 2 of Special Votes https://t.co/CQNSXkYd7l
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 28, 2024
Mamabolo has also urged citizens to be aware of fake news doing the rounds. He says they do have a relationship with social media giants, and they have requested fake posts to be taken down.
But he adds the scale of the problem is so huge, it outpaces their reaction ability.
As we vote in #SAelections2024, stay informed and beware of disinformation.
Disinformation is when someone creates and spreads lies about our elections on purpose.It can divide communities, mislead voters, and erode trust in our electoral system.
How to spot disinformation:… pic.twitter.com/CCWgBXZ66k
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 28, 2024
🚨 Rumour Alert! 🚨 Did you hear? Voters, rest assured, you can cast your vote even with manicured or false nails! 💅✨ Indelible ink is applied to the bed of your left thumbnail, ensuring your vote is counted, no matter your nail style. 🗳️ Let's debunk this myth and ensure every… pic.twitter.com/51KGxLCQIH
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 28, 2024
At the same time, Nearly 3000 SANDF members are on stand-by to assist the SAPS in maintaining law and order during the election period, stretching until next Friday.
The employment of the members was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa. This is estimated to cost the taxpayer almost R60 million.