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IEC says seat numbers in provisional results could change

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The Electoral Commission had received 197 objections by 3pm on Saturday. It dismissed 54, and two were upheld. Chairperson Mosotho Moepya said the outcome of the objections could change the number of seats in the provisional results.

The Commission said eight objections were withdrawn. The rest were still under consideration. Moepya spoke at a media briefing on vote counting.

Moepya said the Commission would uphold any objection that it judged material to the final result. It would do this before it formally declares the election outcomes.

Parties and candidates that are unhappy with a ruling may challenge it in the Electoral Court. They have seven days to do so, Moepya said.

Key facts

Who
Mosotho Moepya (Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (IEC)); Electoral Commission (Election management body that received the objections)
What
As of 3pm Saturday the IEC had received 197 objections: 54 dismissed, 8 withdrawn, two upheld, and the rest still under consideration. Moepya said seat numbers in provisional results could change, and that dissatisfied parties and candidates may challenge rulings in the Electoral Court within seven days.
When
7 November 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

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The MK Party said in Durban on 7 November that it has set up a coalition negotiating team for hung councils, while its objection to the vote still stands. Earlier, the MK Party sent the IEC a four-page objection alleging system failures and count mismatches after the 4 November elections, and asked it to postpone the final results announcement.

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said about 150-160 councils, roughly two-thirds of local municipalities, will need coalition governments, and he asked parties to put stable councils first. The IEC said results were final in 150 of 213 municipalities as at 5pm on Friday, and observers led by the South African Council of Churches called the elections free and fair.

EFF leader Julius Malema called the result a setback, not a defeat, after support fell from 10.3% in 2021 to 6.2% and the MK Party became the third-biggest party.

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