The recent election has left many questions unanswered, and the debate is far from over. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has come under scrutiny, with some alleging vote tampering and others questioning the transparency of the vote-counting process.
The IEC’s powers and duties, as outlined in Section 5(1) of the Electoral Commission Act, include managing and overseeing the conduct of elections, ensuring votes are free and fair, and compiling and maintaining voters’ rolls. But are they fulfilling these responsibilities?
Despite the nation having received the official results, concerns persist as the numbers continue to be edited. Recent allegations suggest that 9 million votes are unaccounted for, sparking concerns about the legitimacy of the election results. IT experts have also raised red flags, claiming that IEC officials are editing numbers to comply with the notion of “free and fair”.
Many are asking: Is the IEC still doing it’s job? The electoral act mandates the publication of results within 7 days of voting, but the ongoing editing of numbers has raised suspicions of illegal tampering.
The integrity of South Africa’s elections must be upheld. What do you think? Should the IEC be held accountable for any potential irregularities? Share your thoughts!
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers, Bloomberg
The IEC is captured