The IEC has ordered the count to continue after the 107 Thaba Chweu ballot papers were “quarantined”. The district has three voting stations, with two leaning towards the ANC in Ward 11.

The mistake could cost the DA, leading the poll, the ward, if the IEC decides to declare the votes legitimate along party lines. Voters would have voted along party lines and logos, unaware of the bungle.

If the votes are allowed, they will be tallied to Steve Tshwete Ward 11’s totals and not be allocated to the Lowveld area’s final count.

The DA has lodged a formal objection to the inclusion, and the matter is currently being addressed at the provincial IEC operations centre in Mbombela.

Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the EFF, have raised objections over the IEC’s handling of registered voters not appearing on the official voters’ roll. More than 100 eligible voters were turned away yesterday.

Some insisted on the MEC7 list, containing names of newly registered voters logged after the IEC’s final election drive before the roll officially closed.

Residents who had proof of registration were also allowed to vote.

Bigger parties will likely not raise a storm over the minimal omissions from the voter’s roll, where the low number of people turned away has no considerable effect on the election’s outcome.

Freshman DA candidate Deon van der Merwe is contesting the ward.