The Electoral Commission of South Africa has come out strongly against claims of vote manipulation during the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. In a statement, the commission expressed concern over sustained, yet inaccurate claims about the management and integrity of election results.
These claims have the potential to undermine confidence in the country’s democratic processes, particularly with municipal elections on the horizon. The commission’s response comes after allegations were made by Julius Malema, president of the Economic Freedom Fighters, in a recent podcast interview. Malema alleged that votes cast for the EFF at his voting station, Mponegele Primary School in Polokwane, had been incorrectly allocated to the African National Congress.
Addressing the Allegations
The commission has dismissed Malema’s claim, stating that records show no discrepancy between the results captured at the voting station and those reflected in the official election system. The IEC emphasized that voting station result slips remain the definitive record of voters’ choices and are protected by several safeguards aimed at preventing manipulation.
Results slips in the hands of the Commission indicate that the Mponegele Primary School vote count is the same as those captured on the Commission’s Results System. The commission outlined a range of mechanisms designed to ensure transparency and accuracy in the election process, including counting votes at voting stations in full view of party agents and observers, compiling and countersigning result slips by political party representatives, and independent auditing of captured results against physical result slips.
Ensuring Electoral Integrity
Other safeguards include a double-blind electronic capturing process, auditing of election systems by external experts, and allowing political parties to inspect and audit election systems. The IEC also makes voting station results available to political parties and media at Results Operating Centres, and permits parties to photograph and publicly share results slips immediately after counting. These checks and balances are specifically designed to safeguard electoral integrity and public trust.
The commission confirmed that senior officials are scheduled to meet EFF leadership on 21 May 2026, following a request from the party. The meeting will focus on election readiness ahead of municipal polls and provide an opportunity for the EFF to raise concerns relating to electoral processes. With local government elections approaching, the IEC said maintaining public trust in the credibility of election outcomes remains critical.
A meeting with the EFF will provide a platform for constructive engagement, and the IEC remains committed to working with all political parties through Political Liaison Committees to strengthen confidence in South Africa’s electoral democracy. elections
