In South Africa, it is now time to compile the results. After the vote on Wednesday, May 29, the electoral commission began to publish, little by little, the results of these legislative and regional elections. The African National Congress, the ANC, with outgoing President Cyril Ramaphosa at its head, could lose its absolute majority, a first since the end of apartheid.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès
The “ROC” (Results Operations Centre), the operational center for results in South Africa, has been an anthill since the election on Wednesday May 29. Observers, media, parties, all have their eyes glued to the big screens which compile the votes already recorded.
The counting operations in the offices have been completed, but there are still steps before the results can be made official, as Nkosinathi Shazi, journalist for South African radio Power FM, explains: “ Once the votes are counted, they must then be checked and audited to ensure that everything is in compliance. »
The voices are therefore validated drop by drop. For example, according to the partial results given Thursday evening, with 35% of polling stations counted, the African National Congress (ANC), the outgoing president’s party, was placed below the fateful 50% mark with 42.3% of the votes cast. , according to the electoral commission.
A running countdown to announce the results as quickly as possible
It is offices in rural areas that are appearing more quickly, according to political analyst Hlengiwe Ndlovu: “ These votes that we are already seeing are mainly those from the smallest offices, and in the smallest regions. But we don’t yet have before our eyes the largest metropolises “, she explains.
With the introduction this year a 3rd ballot, for the election of deputies designated according to their region, and of independent candidates, the counting operations may be slowed down. But Sy Mamabolo, head of the electoral commission, thinks he will remain on schedule. “ According to the electoral law, the commission has seven days to announce the results. We have always been able to do this in a much shorter time, and we will endeavor to continue doing so for this occasion. », he reports.
Final results are not expected before the weekend. The commission intends to announce the results this Sunday at the latest.
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