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MK Party asks IEC to freeze eThekwini results capture

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The MK Party sent the Electoral Commission of South Africa a four-page objection on Friday, alleging system failures and mismatches in the count after the 4 November local elections. It also wants the final announcement of results postponed.

The objection, signed by acting secretary-general Lindiwe Makubu, is addressed to IEC commissioner Titi Pitso. The party alleges the results operations centre in eThekwini suffered a system breakdown during live capturing and data transmission. It says this disrupted data streams and altered visible audit trails.

The party also claims electronic figures differ systematically from the Form NP041 results slips that party agents counter-signed. It alleges failures in the verification, reconciliation and sorting of ballots between 2 and 4 November. It says IEC statements that it failed to deploy agents hid these failures.

The party wants a technical lock on disputed entries, a forensic explanation and an independent analyst. It says refusing to consider the objection before the official declaration would harm the electorate. The allegations are not independently verified, and the objection names no districts and attaches no evidence.

IEC spokesperson Kate Bopela said commissioners respond directly to political parties. The IEC is handling more than 800 complaints from parties across the country.

Key facts

Who
Lindiwe Makubu (acting secretary-general of the MK Party); uMkhonto weSizwe party (party lodging the objection); Independent Electoral Commission (electoral body handling the objection); Titi Pitso (IEC commissioner, addressee of the objection)
What
The uMkhonto weSizwe party filed an objection with the IEC asking it to freeze processing of contested eThekwini results and allow independent forensic analysts to examine the count before final results are declared. The IEC is handling more than 800 complaints from parties nationwide.
When
7 November 2026
Where
eThekwini, South Africa
Status
Reported

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