POLOKWANE – The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in Limpopo has confirmed that counting was halted at Alf Makaleng Primary School and Rev. P.M. Malatjie Primary School in Ward 12, Polokwane, but it has not addressed ActionSA’s central allegation of a 215-ballot discrepancy at the latter station.

The confirmation came during a joint media briefing with the South African Police Service at the Provincial Results Operations Centre at The Ranch on Thursday, November 5, where the IEC provided an update on voting, preliminary turnout and the counting process.

Earlier on Thursday, ActionSA alleged that its agents recorded 1 315 votes at MP Malatjie Primary School, while the voters’ roll indicated that only 1 100 ballot papers had been issued, leaving 215 ballots unaccounted for.

The party also alleged that a sealed box of ballot papers arrived at the station without SAPS officers or accredited observers present. It said agents from the EFF, Mayibuye and the SACP questioned the validity of the ballots, but that IEC officials proceeded with counting with the support of ANC party agents.

ActionSA said it had lodged a formal complaint in terms of Section 65 of the Electoral Act (Act 51 of 1996) and would seek a re-run if an investigation found that the integrity of the election had been compromised.

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IEC confirms counting was halted

Responding to questions about the matter, the IEC said counting at Alf Makaleng Primary School and Rev. P.M. Malatjie Primary School could not continue after an altercation between political party agents and counting staff.

The Commission said the matter had been referred to the Party Liaison Committee (PLC), which was engaging stakeholders to determine the way forward.

However, the IEC did not confirm or deny ActionSA’s allegation of a 215-ballot discrepancy at MP Malatjie Primary School.

It also did not provide reconciliation figures showing the number of ballot papers issued, cast, spoilt and counted, nor did it comment on the allegation that a sealed ballot box arrived at the station without SAPS officers or accredited observers present.

The Commission further did not indicate when the PLC was expected to conclude its deliberations or when counting at the affected stations would resume.

Counting process explained

The IEC said counting commenced shortly after voting closed in the presence of political party agents and accredited observers.

According to the Commission, the process includes opening sealed ballot boxes, verifying ballot papers for the IEC security stamp, sorting and counting the proportional representation, ward candidate and district council proportional representation ballots separately, and reconciling ballot papers received, issued, unused, spoilt and counted.

Results slips are then produced in duplicate, signed by the presiding officer and countersigned by party agents before being displayed at the voting station. Party agents are permitted to photograph the signed results slips before they are scanned, captured, verified and independently audited.

As of 12:00 on Thursday, the IEC said 2 561 (25.8%) of the expected results slips had been scanned into the results system. Of those, 1 934 (19.5%) had been captured and 1 471 (14.8%) independently audited.

The Commission said the Party Liaison Committee would continue engaging stakeholders regarding the two affected Ward 12 voting stations.