The EFF in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the counting process at three local voting stations.

The November 4 election results will prove the discrepancies, EFF sub-regional chairperson Joseph Ngubeni insisted.

According to Ngubeni, issues arose in several Mhluzi wards, including Ward 25, where proper and verified counting procedures allegedly failed to take place.

Tensions flare in Ward 25

Ngubeni stated that the situation escalated significantly in Ward 25, where he claimed ‘there was no counting at all’.

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“This breakdown led to a heated confrontation and a full-scale dispute, prompting the IEC to be escorted off the premises, along with election materials,” said Ngubeni.

According to Ngubeni, party representatives refused to sign off on the result slips for the affected areas.

The EFF maintained that the provisional figures do not align with official figures or ballots cast.

EFF challenges uncertified results

“Whatever it is that will be captured as the final results would be misleading, unconstitutional, and wrong,” Ngubeni said.

He added: “Legally, counts require the direct presence and official signatures of party representatives. Because boxes were removed or handled without formal counts taking place, we argue that any published outcomes from these specific extensions risk being constitutionally flawed.”

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EFF officials are currently at the IEC offices to formally lodge disputes and challenge the validity of the figures before they are officially certified.

According to Mpumalanga IEC spokesperson Thandoxolo Chembeni, tensions boiled over in the early hours today as vote counting ground to a halt following disputes over ballot figures at Ext 8 Clinic in Mhluzi Ward 25.

Chembeni said the standoff began late last night when agents raised concerns that ballot numbers at a station were not balancing.

“In an effort to resolve the discrepancies, election officials undertook a recount of the ballots three times. Despite logging the recount results, agents refused to allow counting to resume, sparking intense debate that stretched from the early hours through to 07:00,” Chembeni said.

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Adding to the complexity, he said that the dispute intensified over plans to relocate the voting materials to the IEC local office.

“Concerns were raised regarding the security and risk of moving the ballots to a temporary station, with debates centring on how and when the materials should be safely transported. Ultimately, after hours of negotiations, stakeholders reached an agreement.”

Chembeni added that election agents were left visibly exhausted by the prolonged standoff, and it was decided that the remaining ballot papers will either be counted later today or early tomorrow morning.

“The other concerns that were reported were in Ward 5 and Ward 23 in Mhluzi. I am unable to provide more information due to Steve Tshwete IEC officials currently attending a meeting,” he added.

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Chembeni said he would provide more information regarding the other voting stations, but at the time of publication, no response had been received.