MK political debut deemed a success as provisional results trickle in

• Steve Tshwete IEC Manager Elvis Mgcobo told the Observer that he was very happy with how voting proceeded yesterday.

When asked about the issues at Aerorand Primary School and Laerskool Kanonkop, Mr Mgcobo stated that it is a blessing that such a large number of people went to the polls despite the long waiting periods for voters.

Mr Mgcobo also stated there were “no major complaints” lodged for the IEC to investigate.

A number of problems were, however, experienced throughout town, with voting moving slowly at some voting stations.
Counting at both Kanonkop and Aerorand Primary only ended between 06:00 and 07:00 this morning.

At Kanonkop Laerskool, non-functioning voting machines resulted in waiting periods of three and a half hours.
A second voters’ roll had to be sourced in order for voting to proceed at Laerskool Kanonkop.

Numerous voters also left Eric Jiyane Hall in Ward 18, Mhluzi, where hours-long waiting periods for voters were also reported.

The EFF did not respond to Middelburg Observer requests for comment.

• Executive Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela of the ANC said there were a few issues in Wards 1, 4, and 10, however, all the issues were resolved, and residents managed to cast their votes.

Mayor Masilela said in Ward 10 presiding officers had problems with people wearing their political outfits, however, the people were allowed to vote.

In Ward 4, a man was told to go to the police station for an affidavit because the voter list indicated he was deceased. After receiving the affidavit, he went back to vote.

Mayor Masilela said Ward 26 was one of the wards where voting went on well after 21:00.

Despite the challenges, the mayor said the voting process went well.

• The 2024 elections were off to a rough start in Hendrina, with shots being fired after the closure of voting stations on Monday following the special votes.

According to VF+ Councillor Corrie Wolmerans, it remains unconfirmed who fired the shots, but it is believed to have been in retaliation for a ballot box being tampered with.

“There was a lot of dissatisfaction between the EFF, MK and ANC after one of the ballot boxes that came from one of Kwazamokuhle’s voting stations returned opened and visibly tampered with. The special votes had already been concluded and the shooting was at roughly 19:30 that night. No one was injured and the SAPS was dispatched.”

Clr Wolmarans, however, assured that voting ran smoothly thereafter with no further interruptions or hiccups.
Votes were counted until shortly before 05:00 this morning.

An enquiry into the alleged shooting will be directed to the national results centre.

• The Middelburg Observer spoke to Council Speaker Thato Mathunyane of the MHRF, who stated, “We were pleased with the voting process yesterday. We didn’t find any discrepancies or irregularities.”

• Final results are only expected to be called by Sunday. Follow our site for national updates from the national results centre.

A bird’s-eye view of results (in no particular order), which have not been formally declared by the Independent Electoral Commission, is a good indication of overall turnout and support for individual parties:

• Ward 13 – Central Business District

DA majority with the party obtaining 2 303 votes nationally
Regional 2 240
Provincial 2 263

• National results in Ward 24 – Adelaide Tambo Hall

DA 80
ANC 413
EFF 177
MK 174

• Provincial results in Ward 24 – Adelaide Tambo Hall

DA 92
ANC 398
EFF 195
MK 162

• Regional results in Ward 24 – Adelaide Tambo Hall

DA 90
ANC 396
EFF194
MK 156

• Regional results in Ward 21

ANC 872
MK 314
DA 183
EFF 350

• Provincial results in Ward 21

ANC 877
MK 343
DA 188
EFF 352

• National results in Ward 21

ANC 909
MK 375
DA 176
EFF 333

• National results in Ward 19 – Manyano Primary School

DA 42
ANC 194
EFF 71
MK 108

• Provincial results in Ward 19 – Manyano Primary School

DA 40
ANC 193
EFF 70
MK 107

• Regional results in Ward 19 – Manyano Primary School

DA 39
ANC 192
EFF 71
MK 109

• National results in Ward 8 – Nasaret Community Hall

DA 482
ANC 309
Eff 127
MK 136
PA 211

• Provincial results in Ward 8 – Nasaret Community Hall

DA 539
ANC 286
EFF 138
MK 138
PA 209

• Regional results in Ward 8 – Nasaret Community Hall

DA 518
ANC 278
EFF 147
MK 105
PA 209

• National results in Ward 8 – Khulu Ndlowazi Primary School

DA 84
ANC 575
EFF 163
MK 163
PA 8

• Provincial results in Ward 8 – Khulu Ndlowazi Primary School

DA 82
ANC 457
EFF 185
MK 248
PA 8

• Regional results in Ward 8 – Khulu Ndlowazi Primary School

DA 85
ANC 561
EFF 179
MK 243
PA 11

• National results in Ward 18 – Eric Jiyane Hall

ANC 695
DA 109
EFF 282
IFP 5
PA 7
MK 341
FF+ 5

• Regional results in Ward 18 results – Regional

ANC 705
DA 114
EFF 298
IFP 5
PA 5
MK 323
FF+ 6

• Provincial results in Ward 18 results

ANC 688
DA 122
EFF 307
IFP 3
PA 6
MK 375
FF+ 2

• National results in Ward 15 – Kanonkop Laerskool

DA 1 666
ANC 86
EFF 40
PA 9
FF+ 191
IFP 2
MK 41

Regional results in Ward 15 – Kanonkop Laerskool

DA 1 631
ANC 84
PA 6
FF+ 211
IFP 4
MK 33

Provincial results in Ward 15 – Kanonkop Laerskool

DA 1 650
ANC 84
EFF 43
PA 6
FF+ 211
IFP 3
MK 33

• These are provisional results that still need to be formally declared by the IEC.