As DA prepares to again govern WC, IEC encourages disgruntled parties to approach commission
Over the last three days there have been some heated discussions on the floor of the results centre at Century City as parties cried foul over the alleged incorrect capture of votes from results slips signed off at polling stations.
FILE: The DA's Western Cape Premier Alan Winde at the provincial IEC's results operation centre in Cape Town on 31 May 2024. Picture: Skhu Nkomphela/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Electoral Commission (IEC) head Michael Hendrickse has encouraged disgruntled political parties to challenge the provincial vote count if they are unhappy with the outcome of Saturday’s vote tally.
Over the last three days, there have been some heated discussions on the floor of the results centre at Century City as parties cried foul over the alleged incorrect capture of votes from results slips signed off at polling stations.
ALSO READ:
- IEC yet to pronounce on parties objections to vote in Western Cape
- 100% of votes captured in the Western Cape
While it is unclear exactly how many objections have been lodged with the IEC’s national office, Hendrickse said it could impact the final declaration of the election results - set for Sunday evening.
"I think that’s the right way to go. If you are not happy with the result, challenge the result in the lawful means...and the procedures are there for political parties and candidates."
The IEC extended the 48-hour post-poll deadline to 6 pm on Saturday night for objections to be lodged.
"Someone still has an opportunity on a specific case to make a request for condonation. Whether it is granted, that is something depending on the specifics on the reasons for why you were late."
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s outright majority win makes it unlikely that additional votes from other parties would impact the outcome.
Hendrickse: “This has been a long, hard campaign & one where to a large extent, there has been no serious transgressions of our code of conduct. Yes, there were challenges here and there but I thank you very much to the political parties & the candidates. You have my respect.” LI
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 1, 2024
Meanwhile, the DA says its premier candidate in the Western Cape Alan Winde will soon put together his new cabinet.
Following the party’s 55% victory in the provincial polls, it will retain more than half of the 42 seats in one of the country’s smallest provincial legislatures.
But the DA has to contend with a new opposition formation in the benches across from it as the African National Congress (ANC) suffers its most bruising defeat in the province since 2009, with 19% of the vote.
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) will make its debut as the second-biggest opposition party in the province.
This will be Winde’s second term as premier.
His predecessor Helen Zille also served two terms as a DA premier.
The DA’s 55% victory is on par with its 2019 performance.
Known as the split vote, the party got slightly less support from the province to run the national government at 53%.
But while the party will no doubt be involved in coalition talks at the national level, its Western Cape leader Tertius Simmers says it’s focusing on taking the province to greater heights.
"We sincerely wish to thank all voters in the Western Cape who put their trust in the DA. We know there’s a lot more work to be done and we remain committed to deliver to every resident in the Western Cape."