The Electoral Commission (IEC) says load shedding has affected the speed at which the counting of ballots is proceeding. Eskom announced that it would be implementing load shedding from 4 pm on Tuesday until 5am on Wednesday.
IEC CEO, Sy Mamabolo says they have completed the results of 58% of the total votes. The IEC on Tuesday announced that it had planned to complete counting 90% of the votes on Tuesday evening.
He says they have been meeting with Eskom officials to discuss the effect of the rolling blackouts on the counting process.
“We have been in discussions with Eskom officials and in those discussions, what we sought to achieve was an insulation of certain sites where our operations continue,” explains Mamabolo.
Meanwhile, the number of hung councils in the Western Cape has increased from 8 in 2016 to 14 so far in this year’s local government elections, with three council results still outstanding as of 3am on Wednesday morning.
Amil Umraw, SABC Research Analyst, says this means coalitions will have to be considered in at least 6 more municipal councils after all votes are in. A hung council is one where no single party has the majority of seats.
Source: News365
In other news – Bank security beat popular gqom artist to death
Messages of condolences have been pouring in for late gqom artist Nhlakanipho “Sir Ronnius” Gumede.
The 24-year-old was allegedly assaulted by security guards at a bank in Tongaat, KZN on Saturday, 30 October. Learn more
