As local government election vote counting continues in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, political heavyweights have expressed cautious optimism while raising concerns over disputed ballots in key wards.

With 32% of the municipality’s votes counted at the time of publication, the DA led with 33.99%, followed by the ANC with 25.66%.

DA mayoral candidate Bosman Grobler remained reserved about celebrating too early: “We are optimistic about what we see, but really don’t know what’s going to happen until everything is in.”

ANC targets 19 wards after early losses

ANC regional deputy secretary Lindiwe Mahlangu expressed confidence in her party’s performance despite fierce competition.

“We have reached all corners of Steve Tshwete, we have just lost two wards,” said Mahlangu.

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The ANC highlighted exceptionally high voter turnout in several areas, including wards 13 and 14, noting strong proportional representation support, with 442 votes in the two wards.

Both parties confirmed that they are closely monitoring the IEC’s ongoing verification process.

EFF disputes Ward 25 ballot count

According to EFF sub-regional chairperson Joseph Ngubeni, issues arose in Mhluzi Ext 8 in Ward 25, where proper and verified counting procedures allegedly failed to take place.

He claimed ‘there was no counting at all’, alleging extra ballots were found.

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

ALSO READ: EFF claims uncounted ballots in Steve Tshwete

Addressing the reported disputes, Grobler said: “If party agents lodge objections or disputes, then that needs to be investigated, and then we will concur with the final decision of the IEC commissioner.”

IEC conducts three recounts at Mhluzi clinic

According to Mpumalanga IEC spokesperson Thandoxolo Chembeni, tensions boiled over in the early hours of Thursday as vote counting halted following disputes over ballot figures at the Ward 25 clinic.

Chembeni said the standoff began 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,” he said. “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.”

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Chembeni said he would provide more information regarding the extra ballots and confirm whether vote counting in Ward 25 had restarted.

At the time of publication, no further feedback had been received.