Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party is attempting to hold the country hostage by threatening to challenge the announcement of South Africa's 2024 election results. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has reaffirmed its authority, asserting that the results will be announced by Sunday as scheduled. The standoff between the MK party and the IEC highlights the growing concerns over the credibility of the electoral process.
As the clock approached 10 p.m. on Saturday, the IEC had completed the capturing of the final results, standing at 100%. Chairperson Mosotho Moepya confirmed that the commission would be ready to announce the results on Sunday, but he emphasized that the completion of the capturing process did not imply finality.
However, the IEC faces a substantial number of objections, with 579 lodged by various parties. In response to a joint objection by 17 political parties in the Western Cape, the IEC extended the deadline for objections to ensure transparency and thoroughness. The extension, requested under Section 55 of the Electoral Act, allows parties more time to address alleged irregularities.
The objections fall into several categories, ranging from claims of unrecorded votes to concerns about the conduct of party agents and electoral officials. While the IEC is dealing with 24 recounts, Moepya assured the public that these would not significantly impact the final election outcome.
The MK party, led by Jacob Zuma, has raised serious doubts about the integrity of the electoral process. Zuma himself arrived at the National Operations Results Centre on Saturday night, surrounded by journalists eager to hear his perspective. The MK party alleges evidence of election rigging but has yet to provide this evidence, instead opting for a planned court action.
During a press conference led by party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, the MK party claimed that an IT company had interfered with the system during a two-hour glitch. Ndhlela called for a commission of inquiry into the elections and hinted at the possibility of a re-vote. However, IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo denied knowledge of any arrests related to the alleged glitches, casting doubt on the MK party's claims.
While some parties, including the EFF and the Inkatha Freedom Party, have accepted the election results despite ongoing objections, a number of other parties, such as the African Congress for Transformation, the South African Rainbow Alliance (Sara), and the Alliance of Citizens for Change, have joined forces with the MK party in challenging the results. Colleen Makhubele, leader of Sara, revealed that 20 other parties supported the effort to challenge the results, including the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM).
Jacob Zuma remains resolute in his claims of electoral discrepancies and demands that the IEC address the grievances before making any declarations. He expressed his concerns about the credibility of the IEC and called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the alleged irregularities. Zuma cautioned against rushing the process and urged political parties to be given the opportunity to present their cases.
Said Zuma: “In my view, SA had been deteriorating in what we envisaged it to be. I am worried now that there are wrong things that happened during counting by the institution which should handle this for us, guided by principle and laws.”
He warned that if the complaints are not dealt with before a declaration is made on Sunday, it would “provoke” the collective.
“Nobody must force us to accept the results, when the results are not fine. The institution needs to satisfy us. Nobody must declare tomorrow and, if it does, they will be provoking us. Do not start trouble when there is no trouble, give the political parties the opportunity to present their cases, do not rush us,” he said.
As South Africa anxiously awaits the resolution of these challenges, the IEC stands firm, determined to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. The nation remains on edge as the outcome of the election hangs in the balance, with the potential for significant political ramifications. Celeb Gossip News will continue to closely follow this developing story and provide comprehensive coverage on the unfolding events surrounding the election results.
