The Sunday Mail
RESIDENTS of the City of Johannesburg will be the last to know who will govern their city as the IEC announces the results of last Wednesday’s local elections.
Of the 212 councils where results have been certified, the ANC won the majority vote in 161 municipalities, the DA won the majority in 19 while the IFP won 6. In 26 of the councils no majority was achieved by any party, resulting in hung councils.
IEC chairman Glen Mashinini said it was possible to announce the results without Joburg because it was a municipal election.
With 99 percent of the national results counted on Saturday evening‚ the ruling party had 53,89 percent, compared with 61,9 percent in 2011 — a decline of eight percentage points.
In comparison‚ the Democratic Alliance had won of 26,92 percent of the vote, up three percentage points from 23,9 percent in 2011.
The IEC said it was satisfied that the elections were free and fair. A number of complaints were processed through the night. A matter has been referred to the electoral court‚ which may lead to a revote in six wards in Stellenbosch.
Results from Johannesburg were yet to be finalised last night.
Speaking at the national results centre in Pretoria on Saturday, chief electoral officer Mosotho Moepya said most of the votes in Joburg had been counted, and only a few wards in the city were outstanding.
Johannesburg is one of the most fiercely contested in the country and by 6.50pm the ANC was in the lead with 44,08 percent of the vote, as the commission continued to count the votes. Moepya said the elections had run smoothly, with 93 percent of voters saying they trusted the IEC.
This year has been trying for the elections authority, which has had its credibility questioned after appearing in court on more than occasion. In Tlokwe in the North West, the IEC gave independent candidates a voters’ roll with addresses missing from it.
The IEC has since resolved the matter but not but not before the Constitutional Court was involved, and ordered that it find and record the addresses of the voters.
Moepya also said 96 percent of voters believed the elections had been free and fair.
He said the election was a steep learning curve for the IEC, but: “When tested, we continue to rise to the occasion.” — timeslive
