IEC orders recounts in five wards as it deals with 197 election objections

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has ordered recounts in five wards as it continues to process objections lodged by political parties and candidates after the 2026 local government elections.

IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said the commission had received 197 objections by 3pm on Saturday.

Of these, 54 had been dismissed, while others had been withdrawn.

After 99% of the votes counted, the ANC has the most votes nationally at 30.8%, with the DA lying second on 24%.

“Two [objections] have been upheld. In other words, these two have been found to have an impact or to be material to the outcome of the result,” Moepya said.

He explained that the commission had ordered an audit in one case, while recounts had been ordered in five wards.

“Recounts have been ordered for five wards,” Moepya said.

The wards affected are Ward 257 in the City of Tshwane, at the Village Montessori School voting district; Ward 102 in the City of Tshwane, at PAC Projects; Ward 119 in Emalahleni, at Elly Park Fire Station; Ward 4 in Thabazimbi Local Municipality, at Shalom Church Centre; and Ward 12 in Breede Valley Local Municipality, at Christian Life Ministries.

Moepya said recounts would be conducted in the presence of political party agents and undertaken by IEC staff.

“Objections may lead to instances where the commission says, this situation, let us be clear about what the outcome should be. Let us order a recount,” he said.

The IEC chairperson stressed that all results remained provisional until the commission had finalised its consideration of objections.

“Results [are] provisional until all objections have been determined by the commission,” Moepya said.

“That provisional result may change as a consequence of the determination.”

He added that seats allocated in provisional results could also change if the commission upheld an objection.

“Seats that are assigned in the provisional results may change because of the decision of the commission in determining an objection,” Moepya said.

The commission said results processing had been completed in the Free State, Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo.

Results processing was still under way in Gauteng, North West and KwaZulu-Natal.

Moepya said the IEC expected to conclude the remaining processes on Saturday evening.

“We are likely to finish [this] evening. I must indicate this is when we are pushing to conclude,” he said.

The commission plans to announce the final results of the 2026 local government elections on Sunday at 6pm.

Sowetan