By Doreen Mokgolo and Zukile Majova
The IEC has called Jacob Zuma’s bluff and decided to announce the election results despite a threat from the former president that this could provoke the people.
Four of the top five parties accepted the elections as free and fair but the MK party joined 22 smaller parties that lodged hundreds of objections.
Receiving the results, at the IEC Results Centre on Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa called on political parties to put the interests of the country first.
“The people of South Africa expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs and expect the parties they voted for to find common ground to overcome their differences and work together.
“They expect their leaders to. Work together within the framework of the constitution and address all challenges they encounter peacefully,” he said.
Chairperson of Independent Electoral Commission Mosotho Moepya declared the elections free and fair.
Though the 2024 elections were the most challenging, he said over 90% of the voters were satisfied with the voting processes.
“There were threats on our members and unwarranted attacks on key members on social media platforms. We had to negotiate and make sacrifices to deliver these results.
“This moment marks a pivotal moment in the democracy of the country,” he said.
The election outcome however will not go down well with 71 ANC Members of Parliament who will lose millions of rands in lucrative salaries and benefits as voters effectively fired them through the ballot.
ANC support fell from 57% in 2019 to 40% in 2024. This means the number of ANC MPs will fall from 230 to 159.
The DA gained three seats from 84 to 87, the MK party secured 58 seats, the EFF lost five seats dropping from 44 to 39 and the IFP gained three more seats from 14 to 17.
On average a MP in South Africa earns just over R1 milllion a year along with thousands of rands worth of perks, allowances and bonuses.
Picture above: Independent Electoral Commission Chair Mosotho Moepya announcing the 2024 election results.
Image source :X
