IEC rejects Julius Malema’s election claims, plans to meet EFF
· The South African
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has strongly rejected claims that votes were manipulated during the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.
It warned that repeated misinformation could undermine confidence in the country’s democratic processes ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.
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‘Inaccurate’ claims
In a statement, the commission said it was increasingly concerned by what it described as “sustained, yet inaccurate” claims about the management and integrity of election results.
The IEC’s latest response follows allegations made by Julius Malema, president of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), in a recent podcast interview.
Malema alleged that votes cast for the EFF at his voting station – Mponegele Primary School in Polokwane – had been incorrectly allocated to the African National Congress (ANC).
IEC Rejects Allegation
The commission dismissed the claim, saying records in its possession show no discrepancy between the results captured at the voting station and those reflected in the official election system.
“Results slips in the hands of the Commission indicate that the Mponegele Primary School vote count is the same as those captured on the Commission’s Results System,” the IEC said.
The commission emphasised that voting station result slips remain the definitive record of voters’ choices and are protected by several safeguards aimed at preventing manipulation.
Safeguards in Election Results Process
The IEC outlined a range of mechanisms designed to ensure transparency and accuracy in the election process.
These include:
- Counting votes at voting stations in full view of party agents and observers
- Compiling and countersigning result slips by political party representatives
- A double-blind electronic capturing process
- Independent auditing of captured results against physical result slips
- Auditing of election systems by external experts
- Allowing political parties to inspect and audit election systems
- Making voting station results available to political parties and media at Results Operating Centres
- Permitting parties to photograph and publicly share results slips immediately after counting
The IEC said these checks and balances are specifically designed to safeguard electoral integrity and public trust.
Meeting Scheduled with EFF
The commission confirmed that senior officials are scheduled to meet EFF leadership on 21 May 2026, following a request from the party.
According to the IEC, the meeting will focus on election readiness ahead of municipal polls and provide an opportunity for the EFF to raise concerns relating to electoral processes.
The commission reiterated its commitment to engaging constructively with all political parties through Political Liaison Committees to strengthen confidence in South Africa’s electoral democracy.
With local government elections approaching, the IEC said maintaining public trust in the credibility of election outcomes remains critical.