South Africa
LGE2016: Live updates
Follow the DAILY MAVERICK TEAM on 3, 4, 5 and 6 August for live updates, analysis and insight on the Local Government Elections. Refresh your browser to see the latest updates.
21:40: That’s it for now from the live updates team for #LGE2016. Don’t miss Stephen Grootes’ analysis of the election results, available shortly on Daily Maverick. A teaser:
It is relatively easy, as an observer, to point at the ANC and say “this is what needs to be done”. The “this” is relatively simple, remove Zuma, both as leader, as a symbol, and as the type of politics he has represented to Gauteng voters. But, dearly beloved, you, and I, and anyone old enough not to believe in fairytales, knows that that is not going to happen. The political history of Zuma suggests, rather strongly, that he is not a person likely to resign, to give up power voluntarily.
So far, he argues, the ruling party has consistently failed to acknowledge the real reason(s) for declining support, and it’s going to cost them dearly. Yes, well. Denial, as they say, is a river in Egypt.
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21:20: Is that a pig we saw flying past our window? The count is finished! And here’s what it looks like in JHB and overall:
21:00: Overwhelming support for the protesters on social media. Sample:
When is the ‘appropriate’ time 2 protest about Rape? @feminist_rogue wrote a book on this & we are still not yet Uhuru #RememberKhwezi
— Mbali (@Mbals24) August 6, 2016
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20:30: About that…
We will #RememberKhwezi whether or not the EFF had anything to do with it… Rape culture is not something to be selective about
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20:25: ANC Women’s League is not letting #RememberKhwezi pass. Now blaming the EFF. Meanwhile, protester Simamkele Dlakavu says #FeesMustFall prepared them well for manhandling. Ouch.
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20:15: Results summary from the Electoral Commission:
ANC – 53.9%
DA: 26.9%
EFF: 8.19%
See the detailed breakdown here.
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20:10: eNCA captures the protest and the removal of the women. In the background, Terry Tselane can be heard apologising to the president for the incident.
20:00: EFF says no formal negotiations re: coalitions are taking place at present. Spokesperson Ndlozi says “people are talking about talks”. Ain’t that the truth, though.
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19:50: ANC issues a statement: reports that they ‘cancelled’ their victory party are incorrect. A celebratory party was never prioritised, says Kodwa.
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19:47: The final slip in support for the ruling party was even larger than predicted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which predicted a national final of 55% during the election count.
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19:30: Analyst Dawie Scholtz says he’d love to see a poll detailing the impact of JZ’s “DA = NP” statements. Not sure any poll would reveal that accurately, though, as it would likely be largely subconscious response.
Nonetheless, Scholtz guesses the statements were counterproductive – ultimately unhelpful to the ANC.
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19:16: South Africa is a thriving democracy, Zuma adds.
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19:15: These elections were hotly contested, with competing parties passionately arguing their points of view in attempts to win the favour of the electorate. That is how it should be in a democracy.
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19:05: Silent protesters against President Zuma held signs saying: ‘Remember Khwezi’. (A reference to his rape trial.) The women are somewhat roughly and forcibly removed. DM’s Marianne Merten says presidential protection guards removed the women. JZ’s response: appears to be heh heh heh.
Update from eNCA: ANC women outraged, Zulu says the head of state of any country would not be treated this way.
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19:03: General roundup: ANC got the majority of votes in 161 municipalities, the DA managed 19 and the IFP six. A total of 26 hung councils.
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#Mashinini: 9301 council seats in #LGE2016 ANC won 5080 seats (48.3%), DA 1723 seats (13.8%), EFF 731 seats (6.9%), IFP 427 seats(4.2%)
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) August 6, 2016
19:00: JHB: ANC: 44.15%; DA: 38.86%; EFF:10.99%
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18:50: Mashinini says the elections were free and fair.
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18:45:
Mashinini breaks down the results in a presentation #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/SbLiU3tK7W
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) August 6, 2016
18:35: Bit of a change in tone from Zizi Kodwa, who says in the ANC Today newsletter that the loss of support for the ANC is a sign of a maturing democracy, as smaller parties rise to take a portion of the ruling party’s voters.
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18:30: Glen Mashinini has started addressing media and dignitaries.
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18:15: Finally! The IEC is announcing results shortly! Watch this space.
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17:46: We’re heading for the final push…
Half an hour to go till announcement of #LGE2016 #ElectionResults. #ElectionFever at NROC in Tshwane pic.twitter.com/YKOeYEFw6n
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) August 6, 2016
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17:23: A snapshot of JHB according to the IEC dashboard:
17:15: From the wires: Maimane says the DA won’t get rid of ANC civil servants in metros the party has taken over, telling journalists: “I’m not here to purge.”
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16:53: We’re getting closer in Joburg…
We’re 93% complete and this is how things currently stand:
- ANC – 43.03%
- DA – 40.14%
- EFF – 10.86%
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15:06: It’s like Oprah is handing out these results. YOU GET A coalition, you get a
#ElectionResults for Ekurhuleni are now all in. ANC 48,8%. A coalition is also needed here. pic.twitter.com/JJj0OANiCj
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) August 6, 2016
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15:00: ANC has a small lead in JHB. Going to be interesting to watch what happens next, though, with EFF Floyd Shivambu having suggested it might snow in hell before they jump into coalition with the ANC. Hm.
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14:33: ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa says the DA hasn’t won Tshwane till the final results are in; things “might still change”.
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12:22: The results from Tshwane are in.
- DA 43.10%
- ANC 41.48%
- EFF 11.64%
100% votes counted in Tshwane #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/k78DjoqgGR
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) August 6, 2016
So it’s all about coalitions. Paul Mashatile confirms on ENCA that the ANC is currently in negotiations with other parties about coalitions. But he didn’t say with whom…
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07:30, Saturday
13% of the vote still to go in Johannesburg
Pretoria – With 87% of the vote captured in Johannesburg by Saturday morning, the difference between the support for the DA and ANC is mere decimal points.
The DA currently has 41.8%, while the ANC is fractionally behind with 41.68%. The EFF is at 10.58%.
Like in its neighbouring metro, Tshwane, where vote counting is currently 96% complete, it still looks like both the ANC and DA will not reach 50%.
In
In those two Gauteng metros, the EFF could wield significant power, depending on whether it decides to go into a coalition with the DA or the ANC or not.
EFF leader Julius Malema told the media on Friday that his party would wait for other parties to approach it in terms of coalitions.
“We will not approach anyone. We will wait for those who are interested
“If we can’t agree let’s go on a re-run. There is not going to be a coalition at all costs. If we can’t agree we will have a rerun,” said Malema.
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DA has identified parties it wants in Nelson Mandela Bay coalition – Trollip
Thulani Gqirana, News24
Port Elizabeth – DA mayoral candidate Athol Trollip has already identified political parties that he wants to charm into a coalition, he said on Friday.
The party has confirmed they are in talks with the UDM, which has secured two seats in the hotly contested Nelson Mandela Bay.
The DA, which has 57 seats in
“We will be putting together a government,” he said.
Once the results have been officially declared, which is expected to on Saturday, the city would have 14 days to set up an executive council.
A new mayor would be elected by
The DA provincial leader said he had already talked to the UDM’s Mongameli Bobani in the region informally and would formalise the talks on Friday.
“We need four councillors to form a majority; I’ve identified who I want to speak to. It would be premature to tell
Inspired by Mandela
Trollip said he did not take the fact that the party has grown in the city named after former ANC president Nelson Mandela lightly.
During a victory lap in Nelson Mandela Bay’s historic Donkin Village, Trollip said it was maybe fitting that they had to co-operate with other parties to achieve their goals.
“Mandela knew that and encouraged South Africans to work together. The fact that we have to work together to deliver our manifesto is going to be historical,” he said.
Once in office, Trollip plans to sweep out corruption, and keep those who were interested in working for the people, he said.
“Once we have identified who the self-serving people are, we’ll get them out of the way and implement a regime where we will be committed to service delivery.”
He was confident that there were enough people in the city who wanted to make it work.
Some of the projects he aims to tackle, once in office, include the
In five years, he said, the city will not be recognisable. And in ten years, it would be an international hub, he believes.
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22:00: That’s it from us until the count is complete. Happy weekend. Till next we post, may your Xes stay where they belong and your alliances deliver good parties.
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21:50: Expect some serious wooing of small parties. The DA’s Athol Trollip has told journalists far and wide that he’s ready to start making changes in Nelson Mandela Bay as soon as the party has formed a coalition, including reallocating municipal budgets to favour infrastructure development. ANC regional task team convener in NMB, Beza Ntshona, meanwhile told media that the loss was “painful” – but that the party was pretty much ready to team up in a coalition with anyone who was willing, in an attempt to bounce back. “We will be engaging any political party. We don’t have any party that… we won’t talk to,” Ntshona said. Well, that clears that up, then.
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21:35: From the wires – A curve ball. Earlier, ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the party had withdrawn its complaint regarding votes in NMB. But now, News24wire reports:
The ANC has not dropped its complaint to the IEC about hundreds of unsecured and marked ballot papers found in a tent at a results centre. ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said on Friday that the party’s provincial chairperson Phumulo Masualle was driving to Port Elizabeth to convince regional task team convener Bheza Ntshona to let the matter against the IEC go.
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21:20: A quick snapshot from the IEC:
21:15: Well, here are some stats that make the ruling party’s announcement of having more voters than ever a little awkward:
The % of all ANC votes (nationwide) that came from Gauteng:
2004: 22%
2006: 19%
2009: 24%
2011: 22%
2014: 22%
2016: 18%— Dawie Scholtz (@DawieScholtz) August 5, 2016
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21:00: QOTD from Julius Malema, upon being asked about being a kingmaker: “We are not in the business of making kings and queens.” Ten out of ten for PR there.
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20:00: From the wires – Netwerk24 reports the Guptas rocked up at Saxonwold Primary to vote in three luxury vehicles, with three security staff on hand to scan the venue first. As they left, one of them apparently shouted “Amandla!” In the words of DM’s Antoinette Muller: “I’m going to get a neck injury from all this eye rolling.”
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19:40: The IEC says 39 councils are still outstanding.
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19:22: From the wires – The PAC’s Solly Sibanda says smaller political parties need “full coffers” to go into battle with giants. The party isn’t going to call the elections free and fair until they have had a chance to study results properly.
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19:21: Mbete says the ANC is open to coalitions. She’s stressed the party’s track record of co-operatively working with those “regarded as [its] enemies”.
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19:20: COPE – another casualty of strong competition – says it’s reflecting on the election results. It says the election process was “in large measure” free and fair. The party’s Dennis Bloem has said they’re very disappointed at their own results, but didn’t miss the opportunity for a few choice barbs at the ANC:
The ruling party can no longer ride roughshod over the people or string them along with empty promises. Voters will now have understood the enormous power they wield. Voters have shown that they can choose to take their votes elsewhere and thereby improve the quality of their lives. Voters will also have discovered that the ruling party is not free to permit the capture of the state nor to turn the public broadcaster into a state broadcaster. For the first time people have understood that sovereignty belongs to them and that every government is elected to serve the people and not any friend or relative of the political elite.
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19:15: The IEC has said there’s nothing wrong with the DA’s early claim of victory (again), but stresses the final results will be in tomorrow evening. Counting expected to complete later tonight.
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19:05: Pensive: FF+ Pieter Groenewald (Greg Nicolson)
19:00: Spotted at the ROC, by Greg Nicolson:
18:36: Broadcast journalist Bruce Whitfield says it’s logistically not practical to hold all level elections simultaneously. Also, he adds, regular elections keep politicians on their toes. True enough; remains to be seen whether the ANC will heed this year’s warning.
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18:20: JHB is only 77% counted. Prepare for a long wait.
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17:45: Mashinini says outstanding provisional results will likely only come in this evening. Go and grab yourself a small beverage. (Mashinini didn’t say that last bit.)
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17:30: IEC has 49 objections to look into.
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17:20: Maimane says DA has Tshwane in the bag. IEC’s Glen Mashinini reminds media the official results are only out tomorrow at 6pm.
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16:50: A shift towards ANC dominance. Gauteng, from the IEC:
16:15: A 0.54% difference between ANC and DA in Tshwane.
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15:30: 80% of the Gauteng votes are counted. We’ll get there…
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15:25: Snapped chatting at the ROC: Bantu Holomisa and Gwede Mantashe. (Greg Nicolson)
15:05: And here’s Joburg, with 73% counted.
15:00. With 76% of the vote counted, this is how Tshwane looks on the IEC map:
14:20: Very tense. Joburg, it’s DA 41.77% and ANC 41.74%. Tshwane is reflecting DA at 42.86% and ANC at 42.37%.
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14:15: IFP says it did not sabotage the NFP – it did not need to. Watch out for claws, they’re going to start coming out everywhere!
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14:00: It’s down to the wire in Joburg, with literall a fraction of a percentage between the DA and ANC.
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13:30: A CapeTalk listener calls in to ask whether it is only the party with the most votes that can form a coalition in order to gain control where there is no outright majority. Analyst Melanie Verwoerd says no, theoretically the party with fewer votes can also do so – which is where it gets interesting. That said, the party with more support has more likelihood of getting in first. However, small parties now have a great deal of bargaining power in key areas.
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12:50: Stephen Grootes says the DA’s track record is that it’s consolidating and growing. ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa’s response: the population is growing. Kodwa earlier said the ANC would be doing some serious introspection.
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12: 46: And it’s confirmed. The DA beats the ANC in NMB with 46.55% compared to the ANC’s 41.02%. Coalitions talks will now begin.
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12:30: On Cape Talk Karima Brown says the DA has little experience governing poor communities and will be tested now.
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12:21 But we do have some spin that can compete with political satire The Thick of It. Despite being on the brink of losing a key metro, the ANC has sent this release:
As results from municipal elections continue to come in to the IEC National Results Center in Pretoria, an unprecedented 14 million South Africans have cast their ballots in favour of the African National Congress (ANC) in this election.
This translates to 54% of the national
Whilst we have received overwhelming support from our people, we will reflect and introspect where our support has dropped.
As results continue to come in, ANC votes are expected to increase even further. They are a ringing endorsement of the ANC’s service delivery programme by the citizens of South Africa.
These figures come at a time of intense speculation around voter apathy and citizen’s alleged lack of interest in political processes.
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12:18: There was a press briefing about the Nelson Mandela Bay results due to start at 12:10…but nothing has happened yet.
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11:27: Results continue to trickle in. Here are our live maps of the tightly contested metros.:
Tshwane
Johannesburg
Nelson Mandela Bay:
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10:55: Remember when President Jacob Zuma said the ANC will “rule until Jesus comes”?
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Jesus was seen walking in the streets of Nelson Mandela Metro last night – he is back! pic.twitter.com/aHenj6TGly
— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) August 4, 2016
10:30: Current data shows a voter turnout of under 58%.
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10:30: From the wires:
US jobs data on Friday could cause major swings in the high-achieving rand on Friday, with an analyst seeing the rand moving between R13.55 and R14.00 to the dollar. This comes as the rand remained at levels last seen in October last year on Friday, as elections continued to show the ruling African National Congress (ANC) losing favour in South Africa’s urban areas and after the UK cut key rates on Thursday amid an economic fall-out resulting from its vote to exit the EU. The rand reached a low of R13.67/$ on Friday, and opened 0.25% weaker at R13.71 on Friday morning. It was also trading at R17.99 to the pound and R15.26 to the euro.
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10:15: Nationally, support for the ANC has declined from 64.82% in 2006 to 54.29% in 2016. Meanwhile, Nelson Mandela Bay results are expected within the next hour.
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09:50: Analyst Dawie Scholtz:
So, I’m quite certain the ANC will trend up slightly in JHB and the DA will trend down slightly as more votes come in.
— Dawie Scholtz (@DawieScholtz) August 5, 2016
09:00: Little news expected at present – we’ll be back after the beep. Here’s some of Telkom’s best elevator music for the break. Just kidding. Rather read our extensive analyses by Ranjeni Munusamy, Greg Nicolson, Stephen Grootes and Marianne Merten. When there’s an update, you’ll be the first to know.
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07:57: News24 are reporting that the ANC has withdrawn its complaint about elections in Nelson Mandela Bay not being “free and fair”.
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07:25: From the wires – the EFF says it won’t consider a coalition in NMB, calling both the DA and the ANC “arrogant”.
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07:15: A snapshot of Gauteng from the IEC results dashboard:
07:00: Over 90% of the votes counted nationally. Provisional results expected during the course of today, but final results only on Saturday.
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06:45: Nails are no doubt being chewed down to the quick in Johannesburg and Tshwane. With the majority of the votes accounted for, there is just a fraction of a percentage between the ANC and DA, who have both won 11 seats. Tshwane is tight too. In Jozi, the DA has 41.72% versus the ANC’s 41.84, and in Tshwane the DA has 43.49% against the ANC’s 41.91.
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22:39: That’s it from us tonight on the live blog. We’ll resume tomorrow morning.
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22:36: News24 are also reporting that a number of the ANC bigwigs are having a meeting at the IEC results centre in Pretoria. ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize and senior party members Jeff Radebe, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Andries Nel as well as Jess Duarte were all present.
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22:35: The latest result update:
Nelson Mandela Bay 98% in – DA 49.49%, ANC 39.25%
Tshwane: 64.5% in: ANC 42.87, DA 42.72, EFF 10.52
Johannesburg: 60.6% in: ANC 42.02%, DA 42.09%, EFF 10.09%
Ekurhuleni: 79.5% in. ANC 45.01%, DA 40.48%, EFF 9.18%
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22:15: Is that a selfie? Phumzile van Damme and Jackson Mthembu share a joke at the national ROC. Photo: Greg Nicolson
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22:06: The ANC in the Eastern Cape have confirmed they are lodging a dispute with the IEC due to the ballots found outside. The ANC say they have “noticed irregularities and we consider the elections no longer free and fair”.
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22:00: Today’s Western Cape wrap from Marianne Merten is available here. She reports: “There will be some coalition horse-trading in eight councils where there was no outright winner, and it could get messy.”
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21:26: Statement from the ANC describes the party as “buoyant and energised”:
The African National Congress (ANC) is buoyant and energized at the latest results being released by the IEC National Results Center that show the organisation is surging ahead in the polls nationally. According to results released by 20:00 the ANC has garnered 54.15% of the vote nationwide. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) is trailing behind at a mere 26.9%.
This result affirms the organization’s confidence that South Africans have once again entrusted the ANC with managing the country’s municipalities. Contrary to the doomsday predictions of a range of pollsters, commentators and analysts the voters of South Africa continue to have confidence in the ANC. […]
As results continue to come
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21:14: Provinces where the ANC has an over 60% majority thus far: Eastern Cape (66%), Free State (61%), Limpopo (67%), Mpumalanga (68%).
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21:00: From the wires – ANC in the Eastern Cape says Maimane is “ahead of himself” in talking of coalitions.
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20:57: In eThekwini, counting has been suspended until tomorrow. There’s 20% of the votes left to count. IEC spokesperson Thabani Ngwira said that staff had been released and would continue in the morning.
When staff were relieved, the ANC had 46% and the DA 39%. According to the IEC dashboard, KZN was 85% complete.
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20:52: Mmusi Maimane said it was a “beautiful” thing that the DA had won in an area named after the former president. Read Greg Nicolson’s report here
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20:30: From the wires – Gwede Mantashe is furious at what he has called the DA’s premature celebration over NMB. He told media he asked the IEC’s chairperson Terry Tselane why “results were leaked to the DA”.
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20:25: All final results now expected by Friday evening.
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20:20: IEC says the contested ballots in Nelson Mandela Bay were where they were supposed to be, but that it is crucial to have them on hand in case a recount is necessary. Yes, we’re confused too.
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20:04: Some analysis here: The municipal election result is probably the biggest wake-up call the governing African National Congress has received since it ushered in democracy in South Africa in 1994. – Milton Nkosi, BBC news South Africa
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19:55: Coalitions are going to be all the rage these elections and the EFF have said they are definitely open to it. Rustenberg is one of the most interesting municipalities and Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Floyd Shivambu has said a coalition is the most likely result.
News24 quotes him as saying:
“There is no decisive winner in Rustenburg and there is likely to be a coalition government which might be led by the EFF. Who knows? In Rustenburg, I think we have 23%. There is no decisive winner in Rustenburg.”
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19:37: eThekwini is finally catching up, with just over half the votes counted. Meanwhile, News24 reports that the ANC and DA are still leading in Marikana wards – where the EFF was believed to have more support.
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19:30: While we wait for results of Nelson Mandela Bay to be confirmed by the IEC, the ANC are still ahead in Twswhane wit 43.53% of the vote while the DA has just over 42%. DA still leading in Johannesburg with 41.93% of the vote.
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18:40: Ranjeni Munusamy has sent this update: DA leader Mmusi Maimane has claimed victory in Nelson Mandela Bay and says they will be able to form a government. ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told Daily Maverick that they are challenging the results in the metro due to dumped ballot papers.
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18:24: This just in: The DA have claimed a win in Nelson Mandela Bay. With 90% of vote counted. DA 47% and ANC 42%. Coalitions still unclear.
DA leader @MmusiMaimane announces that they have won Nelson Mandela Bay according to their polling. @News24 https://t.co/UC95JrcIgP
— Adriaan Basson (@AdriaanBasson) August 4, 2016
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18:10: The ANC has made steady ground in Nelson Mandela Bay. They currently have 40.31% of the vote. DA steal leading with a touch over 45%.
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18:07: A special guest has arrived at the IEC Centre…
SABC’s Hlaudi Motsoeneng is meeting and greeting parties at IEC with SABC bodyguards #LGE2016 pic.twitter.com/Di1ql7dsXI
— carien du plessis (@carienduplessis) August 4, 2016
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17:43: Cope acting regional secretary Siyasanga Siyanda has had a right old go over the dumped ballot papers, saying: “The police must come here. The IEC is in cahoots with the ANC. They want to steal our votes. The police must come here. We need answers. This election should be declared null and void. We need answers.”
The DA, meanwhile, said they accept the IEC’s explanation.
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17:25: The IEC have commented on the marked ballots. They say the papers “where they were meant to be” in the “IEC custody”.
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17:14: We’re getting closer to final results. The IEC’s Sy Mamabolo says 92% of the votes have been captured. He further says: Although 92.7% has been captured, only 83.3% has been audited and scanned. He says by tomorrow night all votes should be in the system.
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16:59: And now…this.
Hundreds of marked ballots have been discovered at the back of the IEC counting centre in Nelson Mandela Bay. Most of the ballots were marked ANC while some votes belonged to Cope, reports News24’s Thulani Gqirana.
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16:56: As we get closer to the final results, it’s time to talk strategy. Marianne Merten reports: I have spoken to a FF+ senior insider and they are willing to talk coalition with adA and EFF (not so much liked). Depends what’s on offer. But coalition talks right now on cards
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16:30:IEC says 80% of votes counted. Expected full count by 6pm.
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16:10: ANC has overtaken DA in Tshwane. :
15:45: eThekwini’s results trickling in. So far DA has 23.6% and ANC has 22.9%. EFF, meanwhile, is celebrating its growth in Cape Town.
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15:30: Columnist Richard Calland says: “Regardless of what emerges from those negotiations, the notion that the ANC’s electoral dominance is impenetrable is squashed. It’s grip on power is slipping; it can be challenged; voters across the land are willing to switch sides – despite, or perhaps because of, the heavily-negative, scare tactics of the ANC in the final phase of the campaign.When the all the votes are finally tallied, it now seems likely that the ANC will be pushed under 60% nationally – a psychologically significant barrier.”
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15:10: The race is incredibly tight. Provisional results: ANC at over 53% nationally, trailed by DA (27%) EFF (7.5%) and the IFP (5%). Nearly 80% of the votes are counted in Nelson Mandela Bay, with the DA in the lead at over 50%. Tshwane promises to keep the country on the edge of its seat for now: just under half the votes are counted and the DA and ANC are neck and neck with 43% and 42% respectively. The EFF managed a respectable tenth of the votes so far.
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15:00: EFF tweets some early celebration, says: “The EFF exceeded 1.2 million Votes. The #Asinavalo brigade will be on its knees very soon. #ThankYou4VotingEFF!”
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14:50: Vote count progressing quickly; ANC sitting at just over 53% overall. Analysts speculate that low voter turnout has had a marked effect. However, some key areas where ANC support is predicted to be strong have not yet been counted.
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14:16: DM’s Greg Nicolson reports: Maimane confident DA will lead Nelson Mandela Bay.
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14:16: The IFP has retained Nkandla. DA still in the lead in the Western Cape.
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14:15: IEC – you will go to bed tonight having a good idea of the results. Capturing is underway.
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14:10: IEC explains delay in eThekwini, says they have been having trouble with the scanners.
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14:08: Results from the Northern Cape are in. The ANC wins by a 58.26 majority, DA are second with 24.85% and eFF claimed 8.6% of the results.
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13:56: Meanwhile, the markets are responding: The rand is at a nine-month high against the dollar as early results from the local government elections see the Democratic Alliance leading key metros.
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13:51 Things are getting tight in Nelson Mandela Bay. With 77% of the votes counted, the ANC have regained some ground and have gotten back up to 39% with the DA now below 50%.
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13:43: Things are starting to wrap up from the Western Cape. This from Marianne Merten: Western Cape: of 24 local councils the DA has taken 14, the ANC nil. Seven councils are hung; with no outright winner coalition talks will have to start. The only outstanding results are for Knysna, Stellenbosch and Cape Town metro.
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12:48: Mmusi Maimane is talking to the media in Pretoria. He says it’s too early to talk about a coallition.
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12:38: We have maps! To help stay in the loop with the results from the three hotly-contested metros, Andrea Teagle and Tola Brennan have put together these maps.
Tshwane
Johannesburg
Nelson Mandela Bay:
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12:27: From Marianne Merten: DA in Cape Town has clinched a two thirds majority with 68.99% against the ANC’s 22.99% as the vote count continues… However, traditionally township ward which the ANC considers its strong holD are last to be counted – and there could be an upsurge. Across the Western Cape the DA leads with 62.55% against the ANC’s 26.39%.
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12:18: News in from Nkandla: The IFP have retained control with a 56% win. Seems those JZ votes weren’t so magical afterall. He he he. In 2011, the IFP won Nkandla with 46% against the ANC’s 42%.
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12:08 The IEC figures show the DA far ahead in Nelson Mandela Bay, but the ANC told Eyewitness News it has won 37 of the 60 wards in the hotly contested metro. Ballots are counted and verified before they show on the screens at the results centre and the ANC EC are confident they’ve made up ground.
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12:06 Well, this is interesting…
The ANC is claiming victory in Nelson Mandela Bay. The DA is saying woah hang on not so fast. And now there is just confusion.
— Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) August 4, 2016
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11:54: Voter turnout has been put at around 58% according to the IEC.
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11:53: This is where we are currently at in terms of votes counted:
Northern Cape has 99% of votes captured.
Western Cape had 84% completed.
Eastern Cape with just under 80% completed.
Free State at 74%.
KZN and North West at 55%. Gauteng and Limpopo at approximately 47%.
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11:40: German Embassy SA tweets: “Very impressed by IEC South Africa national results centre. Wish we had one like that [in Germany].”
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11:30: Read Marianne Merten’s provisional analysis of the Western Cape.
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11:00: EFF: We are playing political David and Goliath. EFF is David and we are very happy as an organisation.
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11:00: Al Jazeera: Both the ANC and DA will probably find themselves forced to court smaller parties and independent candidates…[and] contesting its first local election after it appeared on the scene before the 2014 general vote, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters may find itself playing kingmaker.
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11:00: From the wires – DA victorious in Beaufort West for the first time.
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10:50:
10:23: A plea to the ANC to take provisional results as a wake-up call:
I’m not happy that the DA might win the big Metros but on the other side I’m happy that the ANC will wake up #ElectionResults #Sinovalo
— hlobilemndaba (@hlobilemndaba7) August 4, 2016
10:20: Some notable provisional shifts overall from 2000 to 2016:
ANC: Down from 59.92% – 51.91%
DA: Up from 22.31 – 30.32%
EFF: Up to just under 7%.
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10:15: The ANC has taken the lead in Hessequa and Laingsburg.
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09:50: Columnist Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar tweets that “the ongoing implosion of the ANC in the Western Cape is not good for democracy, if you believe in competition.”
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09:30: DA’s James Selfe issues a statement speaking of “outstanding growth” for the party. The DA was in a “buoyant mood”, he said:
Growth in support for the DA across South Africa as early results come into the IEC Results Operation Centre, bodes well for the DA’s electoral outcomes. In a stamp of approval for the DA’s governance record, voters in Cape Town have re-elected the DA with a resounding majority, which we can project to be our strongest result in Cape Town ever. Voters have endorsed the DA record of good governance in Cape Town in their numbers.
Selfe cited growth in Midvaal, projected “outright majorities” in Bergrivier, Langeberg, and Overstrand. Most significant, however, is a provisional majority for the DA in Kouga (Eastern Cape), which represents a notable swing.
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09:22: Meanwhile, as results start coming in, Acting National Police Commissioner
“We are now going into the mode where people will be either celebrating or moaning. We demand that they act responsibly, whether they are crying or happy, and to not invite the police unnecessarily.”
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09:01: While we wait for results to pour in, why not take a look at some of Greg Nicolson’s pictures from voting day? Here’s a sneak peek:
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08:31: DA Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate Athol Trollip says it’s far too early to declare any sort of victory, with just 33% of the votes counted so far. DA still leads Tshwane, Joburg, Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay.
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07:51: Meanwhile, there was a bit of chaos at the IEC’s result centre in Joburg overnight. ENCA reported that presiding officers staged a protest, saying they’re unhappy and didn’t sign up to work such long hours. Many left without finishing the counting.
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07:39: We’re sure you’ve seen already, but in case you haven’t, Ranjeni Munusamy has the latest in her From Dusk till dawn report.
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07:35: Morning all. It’s early days, but the DA are leading in a number of metros including Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, City of Joburg, Ekurhuleni and the City of Cape Town.
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00:30: DM live updates will resume first thing on 04/08/2016.
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00:25: Over 500,000 votes counted overall. Western Cape DA in the lead with 65.6%. Eastern Cape, ANC has 70.54% and EFF just shy of 5%. Limpopo showing close results with DA at 48.61%, ANC at 34.33% and EFF at 8.19%. In KZN, ANC has just under 68% with IFP trailing behind in second place at 17.11%. Gauteng’s competition is tight, with DA leading at 45.09% and ANC following with 41.82%. EFF has managed 6.81% so far.
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00:10: 25 complaints from the Western Cape have been resolved successfully, says IEC. News24 reports the complaints were primarily regarding conduct between parties.
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00:05: EFF currently has around 5% of the votes nationally, in third place. Fourth place is FF+ with 2%.
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00:00: A total of 308,403 registered voters counted thus far. Provisional results indicate opposition gaining ground in all provinces so far except KwaZulu-Natal.
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23:40: Key updates so far: City of Cape Town, DA 73.3% vs. ANC 12.22%. Mangaung: DA just over 71% vs ANC with 18%. Nelson Mandela Bay: DA just over 77% with ANC 19.22%. Overall results so far, ANC just shy of 60% with DA just under 28%.
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22:45: DA leading in the City of Cape Town with over 73% of the votes.
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22:10: Close to 200 spoiled votes so far.
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23:05: First results in for Nelson Mandela Bay. 77.2% to the DA so far. But under 300 votes counted.
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23:00: ANC currently in the lead in the Free State (58.3%). 28.42% for the DA. FF* has come in with just over 6%.
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22:50: Provisional results from Mangaung: DA in the lead with 71.5%.
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22:25: The DA is leading in the Northern Cape so far, with just under 60% of the votes.
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22:23: The first results are in from Cape Town (Joe Slovo). The ANC has a solid lead with over 80%, but the EFF has gained ground with 12% of the votes so far.
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22:15: Updates from the wires – A Limpopo MEC’s bodyguard allegedly pointed a gun at an Economic Freedom Fighters party agent at the University of Venda voting station earlier. Meanwhile three arrests have been confirmed following violence near Malamulele, Limpopo. Police arrested three suspects on charges of assault of a police officer, attempted murder, contravening the Electoral Act and malicious damage to property. A fight reportedly broke out when a man who had been voting’s cellphone rang and he answered it. Officials informed him that was not permitted and chaos ensued.
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22:00: So far the ANC is in the lead in Tshwane with around 47% of the votes. The DA is coming in at 31.16%.
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21:50: 1% of the counting is complete according to the IEC.
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21:40: ANC has jumped ahead with 50.92% (1,322 votes). DA has 35.32% and UDM 4.78%. EFF has 4.01%.
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21:30: So far 160 spoiled votes have been counted.
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21:10: First results are in. DA: 45,25%. ANC: 31,82%. Independent: 22.73%. Don’t count your chickens, though. These results are from Great Kei, Eastern Cape, representing a whopping 22 votes so far.
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20:50: ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu says ANC is confident that voters will choose the party that has a proven track record of delivering better lives, and which made it possible for the country to enjoy the Olympics and other benefits of democracy.
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20:36: Chief Electoral Officer Mosotho Moepya says the IEC is satisfied with the generally smooth elections on Wednesday, but noted also that an additional shooting had reportedly taken place in Limpopo.
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20:33: From the wires – The voting station at Nokuphila Clinic in Dobsonville saw its biggest voter turnout in over 20 years, the IEC has said.
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20:30: From the wires – Danny Jordaan denies reports that he hired top lawyers to defend himself in the FIFA corruption probe. Claiming the media was being used in politics, he said:
“No, no, no, you must be serious. It is a very unfortunate thing that the DA has come up with, an apartheid-style strategy.”
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20:15: Late afternoon, DA sends a press statement saying the opposition was “neck-and-neck” with the ANC in battleground metros. Unimpressed, writer Tom Eaton responds:
People saying “it’s neck and neck” in X ward are either opening ballot boxes & counting (go to jail ASAP) or talking out of their sphincter.
— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) August 3, 2016
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20:00: Today’s report from Hout Bay by Sumeya Gasa.
#LGE2016: @leiladougan reports from Hout Bay where inequality is stark and access to resources is challenging. pic.twitter.com/zh4o2Y6smT
— Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) August 3, 2016
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20:00: Mayor Patricia de Lille says she’s happy with how the day went and confident of victory in Cape Town. (News24)
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19:00: Long queues still reported from Tshwane. Update from unnamed source in one of the queues to News24: “Please hang in there, we need every vote for positive change.”
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18:40: Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has confirmed the arrest of three Vuwani community leaders on charges relating to attempts to disrupt elections. Meanwhile, President Thabo Mbeki has expressed concern to City Press about possible unrest once results are announced and has praised the relative calm during voting.
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18:22: More on the possibility of extending voting hours from Marianne Merten: Where voting in a station started late (eg 30mins), the station may stay open to make up that time (30 mins).
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18:13 Things have been tense in Vuwani, where many have not bothered to go vote and organised a sports day instead. A Tweet shows army present, but it’s been denied that voting stations are being closed by them.
#Vuwani pic.twitter.com/pHiavpMgfN
— Zikhona Tshona (@ZikhonaTshona) August 3, 2016
#Elections2016 Moepya says it is not true that voting stations in #Vuwani are being shut down by the army
— S’thembile Cele (@SthembileCel) August 3, 2016
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18:07: Ranjeni Munusamy has an update on
Moepya says no decision on extension of voting hours has been taken by @IECSouthAfrica. Doesnt discount this being taken later. #LGE2016
— Ranjeni Munusamy (@RanjeniM) August 3, 2016
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18:02: The IEC have issued a statement:
“The Electoral Commission is pleased to report that voting is proceeding smoothly at voting stations throughout the country.
As at 17H00 today all voting stations were reported as open and all logistical and other challenges which had impacted voting earlier in the day had been resolved.
The Electoral Commission is especially pleased that no significant incidents of unrest or deliberate disruptions to voting have been reported.
However, the worsening weather conditions in some parts of the country – notably the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and parts of the Northern Cape – continue to present challenges to the voting
At least 30 tents had been reported being significantly affected by gale force winds and the Electoral Commission has taken a decision to allow voting stations in the worse affected areas to move to nearby permanent structures where feasible.
The Electoral Commission also received a report shortly before 17H00 today regarding an alleged shooting near a voting station in ward 26 in the newly created municipality LIM345 (comprising Malamulele and Vuwani) in Limpopo. The incident was reported to have occurred in the Malamulele area. No further details or confirmation were available at the time of issuing this statement.”
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17:44: There has been a call to have voting hours extended to 21:00 in the Eastern Cape, where there has been some seriously bad weather. In Nelson Mandela Bay, nine tents were blown away and snow is falling in some areas.
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17:06: News24 are reporting that EFF members in Thulamahashe outside Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga have a coffin out of carboard boxes to “demonstrated the political death of President Jacob Zuma”.
“We are burying the tender government along with the corruption that came with it. We are sick and tired that the tenders came also with nepotism, and we feel we cannot deal with a government that helps us only with the remaining cents of our national financial budget,” said Hebron Nxumalo.
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16:43: In Stellenbosch, where student protests have dominated the discourse, there are mixed feelings about whether or not to vote. Andrea Teagle has this report.
#LGE2016: @AnzTeagle was in Stellenbosch earlier to hear what students had to say about voting. Her report: pic.twitter.com/YaXIF6u96c
— Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) August 3, 2016
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16:33: Trending on Twitter: #Votingpickuplines. Highlights include “Cute thumb, wanna see mine?” “Let’s talk coalitions” “I see you just cast off your X, can I be next?” and – according to one poster – a volunteer scanner who told him she had been waiting for him.
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16:20: International media including BBC and the Guardian have underlined the importance of these elections, noting the close contest between the ANC and DA in key metros according to recent polls.
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16:05: Vuwani has calmed down, but very few voters turned up, choosing instead to play football nearby voting station. Acting Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Khomotso Phalane told reporters there was nothing wrong with a little football and that nobody would be allowed to “contravene the law”.
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15:51 Things have been calm in Masiphumelele for most of today. We have a reporter on the scene.
In #masiphumelele, lots of activity frm #anc supporters just outside the #voting station #LocalElections #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/IzD2ogB9F2
— Leila Dougan (@leiladougan) August 3, 2016
Some #police presence outside #masiphumelele #voting station. The boys in blue say everything is 110% #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/lYyFi4rRvr
— Leila Dougan (@leiladougan) August 3, 2016
The city that works for a few. #masiphumelele residents say #flooding is one of biggest issues #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/BSAwDpgEhh
— Leila Dougan (@leiladougan) August 3, 2016
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15:35: From the wires – The IEC says it’s satisfied with the progress so far. “The vast majority of the country’s 22,612 voting stations reported being open on time at 07:00 and that voting was flowing smoothly,” IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini told media in Tshwane. The day has not been without its hiccups, however. News24wire reports missing voter’s rolls, ballot box seals and scanners, as well as delayed openings, which led to long queues at various stations around the country.
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15:30: Chronicle’s Diana Neille is in Hammanskraal.
All quiet in #Hammanskraal as voters begin to dwindle. At least 400 people voted at this #IEC station so far today. pic.twitter.com/q22QuXXVfC
— Diana Leigh Neille (@DianaNeille) August 3, 2016
#EFF‘s Katlego Molemu says he supports #Malema because things are worse under #ANC than under apartheid. #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/4pHLfTPMxn
— Diana Leigh Neille (@DianaNeille) August 3, 2016
15:20: ANC demands investigation into campaign conduct:
Trollip use Nelson Mandela Bay Metro email system to canvass: #ANC demands investigation https://t.co/6W8dHWYhrD pic.twitter.com/ttqB8jzdG6
— The Daily Dispatch (@Dispatch_DD) August 2, 2016
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15:20: Zwelinzima Vavi says he has not cast his vote yet, but will vote “in a manner that makes me feel not guilty when our daily bread comes”.
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15:15: Marius Fransman says his vote is not his secret, he voted ANC. One supporter on Facebook said she would vote ANC “out of respect” for Fransman.
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15:05: As reported earlier, there was a shooting outside a polling station in Manenberg. Our man Shaun Swingler was on the scene and caught the swift police action camera. A case of attempted murder has been
#LGE2016: @shaunswingler caught the swift police action in #Manenberg during a shooting outside a polling station pic.twitter.com/11NNjW2NwC
— Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) August 3, 2016
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15:00: Malema, quoted in Rand Daily Mail, says: “The people of Vuwani must do the right thing and go and vote. It is ANC people who know that they are not going to be mayors after the elections since Vuwani is no longer under Makhado… so it’s more of ANC problem more than an electoral matter‚ so the ANC must talk to its people.” He cast his vote at midday.
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14:40: Statement from ANC on deaths at voting stations:
The African National Congress (ANC) offers its sincere condolences to the families of two voters who have passed away at voting stations in KwaZulu/Natal and the Northern Cape respectively.
We also send our greatest sympathies to the family of an ANC party volunteer who passed away at a voting station in Struisbaai in the Western Cape.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has officially confirmed the deaths of the two voters. The circumstances surrounding the death of a woman at a voting station in Bulwer have not been made available, and IEC officials in the Northern Cape have indicated the man who passed away at a voting station in Strydenberg appears to have died of natural causes.
These sad incidents have marred an otherwise peaceful and incident-free polling day and we wish their families strength during this sorrowful time. The ANC is saddened at the deaths of patriotic South Africans who had turned out to exercise their civic duty by voting in municipal elections today. – Zizi Kodwa
14:38: Langa and Bonteheuwel were quiet, says reporter Marianne Merten, with a “public holiday feeling”. Below is a slow
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14:33: Philippi, Cape Flats: Children play soccer – with three games underway – opposite the polling station. About 500 of
14:28: Just in from Marianne Merten, photographs from all over the Cape this morning. Below, the first voters queue in Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain.
14:20: Some cracking pictures from our reporters who were in Manenberg this morning.
voters line up early at a voting station in the hotly contested Ward 45 in #Manenberg and #Guguletu #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/WXaejKJULP
— Johanna Chisholm (@JohannaEChis) August 3, 2016
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14:10: Adv. Dali Mpofu claims to have reported “massive fraud” to the IEC and police. Details pending.
Just uncovered massive fraud. ANC members put ANC stickers on voters IDs inside voting station Motherwell,PE Ward 57 pic.twitter.com/9yA7WKLqEZ
— Dali Mpofu (@AdvDali_Mpofu) August 3, 2016
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14:00:
#Elections2016 Mayor Danny Jordaan has made his mark in PE. He cut the queue in case you’re wondering. pic.twitter.com/HYq5gCWIfR
— Rahima Essop (@rahimaessop) August 3, 2016
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13:41: Meanwhile, in Pretoria…
Defend the city, give no space to the enemy, vote #ANC. Provocative electioneering in #Soshanguve. #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/9lfaYcO9Nj
— Diana Leigh Neille (@DianaNeille) August 3, 2016
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There are some reports of some issues at a number of stations across the country. Problems including long queues, missing voters’ roll, ill-equipped staff and a shortage of scanners are being reported. EWN reports that registered voters in Fourways left because of the wait. The delay was apparently due to just one scanner.
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Marianne Thamm has been out in Langa and Athlone and has posted a few pictures of election observers.
O sole mio #LGE2016 pic.twitter.com/Ovpn4yZoKN
— MarianneThamm (@MarianneThamm) August 3, 2016
Party Agents not bloody agents…#LGE2016 pic.twitter.com/y2ISIK1bL0
— MarianneThamm (@MarianneThamm) August 3, 2016
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13:30 More reports from the wires about election-related violence. This from News24:
Election day in KwaZulu-Natal was mired by electoral staff dismissals and sporadic protest action on Wednesday.
Police sources, with intimate knowledge of deployments in KZN, said officers from the Public Order Policing Unit had been deployed to deal with sporadic unrest in Ladysmith on the province’s central escarpment, and in Chatsworth in Durban.
At around 08:00 in Chatsworth, a group of residents from the Bottlebrush informal settlement near Croftdene had stoned vehicles passing on the link road from the Higginson Highway in an apparent protest over piped water.
Riot police and crowd management officers were deployed to the scene and the situation was later described as being stable.
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13:23 Shawn Swingler was in Manenberg where there was a shooting close to a polling station earlier. It seems the shooting was gang related. He has filed this report from the DA stronghold.
#ElectionDay: @shaunswingler was in Mannenberg where there was a shooting 100m from a voting station earlier. pic.twitter.com/Kl2l4PaDSo
— Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) August 3, 2016
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12:52: Marius Fransman has cast his vote, telling media he hopes for a more united ANC.
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12:50: From the wires – IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi says the NFP has the right to align with the ANC for municipal election, but by-elections would tell the true story.
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12:45: From the wires – Zuma, accompanied by his wives Tobeka Madiba-Zuma, Bongi Ngema-Zuma and Sizakele maKhumanlo-Zuma, jokes that he has a “magical vote” that will multiply inside the polling station.
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12:30pm: Prior to elections, SABC pens ode to its journalists’ “blood sweat and tears“. Watch this space for more on the results of said blood, sweat and tears:
For journalists, reporting on elections leads to long working hours, hard work and endless preparation to make sure the facts and processes of voting and results are presented clearly and accurately.
SABC TV News Show Producer, Phakamile Magamdela, always knew that he would end up as a journalist. He loves being an amplifier of the public’s voice and for him the SABC TV platform helps him achieve this:
“Coffee will keep us awake but what keeps us motivated is the fact that as SABC News we play a crucial role in informing the public as part of our mandate.”
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12:23pm:
SASCO students and ANC ward candidates outside coetzenburg voting station, stellenbosch. #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/MMolm5pgYc
— Andrea Teagle (@AnzTeagle) August 3, 2016
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12:15pm: East London, from the wires – Reports of police firing rubber bullets and teargas at protestors in Cambridge. Residents burned tyres and threw stones at at least one reporter. They want Mbulelo Vula as their councillor, saying they know nothing about the ANC candidate assigned to the area.
12:10pm: Report from Hout Bay by Leila Lee Dougan.
From #HoutBay, @leiladougan has filed this report. #ElectionDay #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/q6IEx2IXZC
— Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) August 3, 2016
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12:00pm:
@SollyMsimanga checks in in #Tshwane.The mayoral hopeful says #DA has done all it can in run-up to today. #DMLGE2016 pic.twitter.com/B3zYAhmOCH
— Diana Leigh Neille (@DianaNeille) August 3, 2016
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11:50am: Voting underway peacefully in Tshwane. ANC Mayoral Candidate Thoko Didiza tells media she is not nervous, believes the campaign went well. Vuwani voting stations, meanwhile, were still closed in the late morning with no signs that voting could get underway soon. – News24Wire
11:36: SAPS respond to a suspected gang shooting near a polling station in Manenberg
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10:50: Manenberg shooter reportedly arrested. Community members say victim is a woman, shot in the stomach, has been rushed to hospital. Details not yet confirmed by police. At this stage appears to be unrelated to elections; awaiting further details. Watch DM for more updates and live footage from Shaun Swingler and Johanna Chisholm.
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10:40: News of a shooting in Manenberg, Cape Flats, around 100m from voting station. Hotly contested Ward 45 got off to a smooth start. Traditionally a DA stronghold, the ANC is doing their best to close the gap. Many are hoping their vote will improve their standard of living.
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09:40: It doesn’t matter which polling numbers you consult, because they all point to the same thing: The ANC’s support is plummeting across the country, while the DA’s support continues to climb. – Mmusi Maimane, DA
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09:30 26,3 million registered voters due to cast their ballots today at 22,612 voting stations. President Zuma has full confidence in the IEC, he says. Members of the ANC including the organisation’s leadership will be out on the streets today making door-to-door visits to encourage citizens to go out and vote. – Zizi Kodwa, ANC
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09:10:
An observation: every politician I’ve encountered in the last week looks like they’re fighting a witblitz hangover. Campaigning = hard.
— Richard Poplak (@Poplak) August 3, 2016
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09:00 Voters reported a frustrating delay at the Community Centre in Mandela Village, Hammanskraal. IEC officials were apparently waiting for ballot box seals. First time voter Nthabiseng Mphaka said the disorganisation showed “something is wrong here”. Another opted to go home. A third noted that the delivery was coming from Temba, “a five minute drive away”, which was “concerning”. Meanwhile voters at Laerskool President Pretorius voting station in Potchefstroom complained that the voting station opened late. In George, an elderly voter was turned away on grounds that records showed he was deceased. He does not intend voting again. – News24Wire
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08:00: Mangaung voters were threatening to leave as voting station was still not open at 7:40. Voters started queuing at Rekgonne Primary School as early as 02:00 on Wednesday morning to vote. – News24Wire
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08:00 “I am going to vote for Zuma because I love him and he is our neighbour. I want him to continue to govern.” – Voter, KwaNxamalala village, Nkandla.
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07:00: Vuwani – voting station only being set up just before 7am. Police escort IEC officials, following appeal by President Jacob Zuma for voters to cast their ballots.
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16:00 on 02 August: In an agreement reached between Mr Mlotshwa of the NFP and Kenneth Ntola of the Congress of the People, it was agreed that NFP supporters should vote for COPE in the following areas: Amajuba, eThekwini, uMngeni, Impendle, Msunduzi, Okhahlamba, Escourt, Loskop, Ladysmith and Waaihoek. It makes a great deal of sense for the NFP to align with COPE. In Kwa Zulu-Natal we are ideally placed to accommodate NFP candidates on our proportional lists. We made similar arrangements elsewhere in the country also. In this way, voters who had made up their minds to support certain NFP candidates will now be able to do so without any fear, doubt or anxiety. This will be some solace to NFP supporters. – COPE statement.
An IEC official waits for voters at a school which
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