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The newly formed MK party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, has officially rejected the results of Wednesday’s elections, citing “serious transgressions” in the vote-counting process. Despite Zuma being barred from contesting the polls, his name appeared on the ballots, adding to the party’s grievances.
With over 98 percent of the votes counted, the MK party stands at 14.60 percent nationally, securing third place behind the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the African National Congress (ANC). MK elections head Muzi Ntshingila revealed that party agents reported discrepancies between slips compiled by presiding officers and the results being presented and recorded.
Discrepancies in Vote Counting
“Primarily, we are saying that we do not recognise these results, we object to them, and we are calling for an immediate manual counting because this has infringed on the rights of South Africans to decide the government of their choice,” Ntshingila stated during a media briefing on Friday night.
On the same day, the results viewing portal of the electoral commission (IEC) experienced a glitch for roughly two hours but was later restored. The commission did not provide a reason for the disruption but assured the public that the results had not been compromised.
Official Complaints and Calls for Transparency
Nhlamulo Ndhlela, MK national spokesperson, mentioned that the party has lodged several complaints with the IEC concerning the “serious transgressions” observed in the counting process. Despite raising these issues, the party has not received a “satisfactory response” from the IEC.
“There are fundamental issues regarding their conduct and their processes. There are a lot of discrepancies, and we will unpack what those are. We are not satisfied,” Ndhlela stated. The MK party is considering approaching the electoral court but is also making their concerns public to scrutinize the counting process.
Implications and Future Actions
The IEC has announced that the final results of the election are expected to be declared at 6 pm on Sunday. As the MK party continues to push for transparency and accuracy in the vote-counting process, the political landscape in South Africa remains tense.
Conclusion
The rejection of the election results by the MK party underscores significant issues within the electoral process in South Africa. As the party calls for a manual recount and potentially prepares to take legal action, the integrity and transparency of the voting system come under scrutiny. The coming days will be crucial in determining how these allegations and demands will be addressed by the IEC and other relevant authorities.
FAQs
1. Who leads the MK party in South Africa?
The MK party is led by former President Jacob Zuma.
2. Why is the MK party rejecting the election results?
The MK party cites “serious transgressions” and discrepancies in the vote-counting process as the reason for rejecting the results.
3. What percentage of the vote did the MK party secure?
The MK party secured 14.60 percent of the vote nationally.
4. What actions is the MK party considering to address their concerns?
The MK party is considering approaching the electoral court and has called for an immediate manual recount of the votes.
5. When are the final election results expected to be announced?
The final election results are expected to be announced at 6 pm on Sunday.
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