Election results: It is now a waiting game

ELECTION NEWS AND VIDEO - The Western Province provincial electoral officer, Courtney Sampson explained to the media at the only media conference of the day that there is as yet no final tally available of the votes cast in the 2019 provincial and national elections.

"At best, we may be in a position to provide final provincial results by about midday on Friday," he said. "This is now a waiting game."

"In a number of municipalities, one or more issue is delaying the final count. All the voting is done, all the votes are counted. All the votes have been transported to the relevant capturing sites where it is being audited. In a number of municipalities, among which are George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, an issue is delaying the final count.

"The dilemma now is whether to insist that the counting be finalised, or whether to allow the very tired staff an opportunity to rest. Ultimately we will do the right thing."

At best, the electoral commission expects to have the final tally for the provincial votes available by 12:00 on Friday."

Neither the electoral commission staff nor party representatives were prepared to expand on the reasons for the delays in making the results available for Stellenbosch, Breede River Valley, George, Bitou, Knysna and the City of Cape Town.

Sampson said he personally was not aware of any official complaints by political parties as a result of the various concerns that were raised about the voting process. However, the IEC has announced that it has established an audit to check the extent of voter fraud and said that four people have so far been arrested for casting more than one ballot.

This resulted from the complaints raised by political parties about the indelible ink that apparently were easily removed.

Watch a video below.