IEC’s National Results Operations Centre main focus for party leaders on Saturday

JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)’s national results centre will become the focus for many political party leaders on Saturday.

The capturing of votes is likely to conclude before the end of the day, with 22,685 of the 23,292 voting districts already counted, audited, and included on the tally on the leaderboard.

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Several objections have been lodged, with some parties claiming the elections have been rigged or that their numbers have been misrepresented.

Leaders from different parties - including the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) - are set to arrive and address the media at the National Results Operations Centre (ROC).

On Saturday, the ROC is expected to receive the ANC’s Cyril Ramaphosa, the EFF’s Julius Malema, and the IFP’s Velenkosini Hlabisa.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which has been “thee” story of these elections, will also see its leader, Jacob Zuma, arriving at the venue.

Meanwhile, the Patriotic Alliance (PA), which made significant strides with voters in its third general election, is sending its two leaders, Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene, to speak to the media.

Build One South Africa (BOSA)’s Mmusi Maimane, who promised to put a job in every home but seems to have only secured one job for his party in Parliament, was already at the centre by Saturday morning.