Frayed tempers behind disruption at Joburg results centre

04 August 2016 - 14:37 By TMG Digital

Frayed tempers were behind a disruption at the Electoral Commission of SA’s (IEC’s) results centre in Johannesburg on Thursday‚ it said. “The capture of results is centralised in Johannesburg and delays occurred early today when large numbers of presiding officers converged in a short space of time to deliver their results slips and security materials‚”the IEC said in a statement issued at its Tshwane operations centre.“Eager to return home for rest after a long day and a cold night‚ some tempers frayed understandably during these delays‚” it said.“The IEC deployed the vice chairperson (Terry Tselane) and the provincial electoral officer (Masego Sheburi) to the centre and the situation was quickly resolved.”How did your ward/city vote? Click here for the #ElectionResults:http://bit.ly/2apwZKUThe IEC said it was not aware of any results slips going missing in Johannesburg.It said it was proud South Africans had once again “voted peacefully‚ patiently and passionately”.“As at 11am today (Thursday)‚ 77.8% of results had been captured‚” the IEC said.“By 11am today the entire process was almost complete for the Northern Cape‚ with 99% of results finalised and results only outstanding for a few wards of the Sol Plaatjie Municipality.“The Western Cape was following closely behind with 84% completed‚ the Eastern Cape with almost 80% completed and the Free State with 74% complete.“In Mpumalanga‚ 60% of results were complete‚ while both KwaZulu-Natal and the North West reported 55% complete. Gauteng and Limpopo had completed approximately 47% of results….”The IEC said election officials‚ watched by party agents and observers‚ spent the night sorting and counting ballots at voting stations to produce results slips.Once these had been signed by election officials and party agents‚ copies were posted on voting station doors and were taken to municipal electoral offices or regional results centres where the results were captured.Party agents were encouraged to take photographs of the results slips as an extra check.The results were then independently audited before being finalised.“This process is now under way in all provinces and will continue until all results have been finalised‚” the IEC said...

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