The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has dismissed allegations by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that votes were swapped during the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, saying the claims are inaccurate and risk undermining public confidence in the electoral system.
The IEC said it noted with concern what it described as sustained and inaccurate statements about the management and integrity of election results, warning that repeated false claims by political leaders could damage trust ahead of upcoming municipal elections.
The commission was responding to remarks made in a podcast featuring the EFF leader Julius Malema, in which he alleged that votes at Mponegele Primary School in Polokwane, Limpopo, were swapped and that his party’s votes were incorrectly attributed to the African National Congress (ANC).
The IEC rejected the allegation, stating that the results slips in its possession confirm that the Mponegele Primary School vote count matches the results captured on its official Results System.
“The Electoral Commission wishes to indicate that South Africa’s result collation process is robust and predicated on transparency, extensive safeguards, and checks and balances which are designed to protect the integrity of the election results,” the IEC said.
The commission added that result slips completed at voting stations represent the final record of the political will of voters in each voting district.
“The Commission is acutely aware that result slips which are completed at voting stations represent the ultimate record of the political will of the voters within voting districts,” it said.
The IEC explained that the electoral process includes multiple safeguards, including counting of votes at voting stations in the presence of party agents and observers, and the completion of result slips that are countersigned by party representatives.
It further said results are captured through a double-blind capture system and are independently audited against result slips to ensure accuracy.
The commission also noted that political parties are allowed to audit the results system, access voting station results through Results Operating Centres, and photograph and broadcast result slips once completed.
“The safeguards inherent in the results collation process include counting of the votes at the voting station in front of party agents and observers,” the IEC said.
It added that these measures are designed to ensure transparency and credibility.
The IEC said senior officials are scheduled to meet with EFF leadership on May 21, 2026, where the party’s concerns and broader election readiness matters will be discussed.
It added that the meeting, requested by the EFF, forms part of ongoing stakeholder engagement processes.
The commission reiterated that it remains open to constructive engagement with all political parties through Political Liaison Committees, aimed at strengthening electoral democracy and maintaining public trust in the integrity of elections.
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Hope Ntanzi
iol.co.za
