IEC rejects Malema’s vote‑swapping claim, says system is robust and transparent

What the IEC said

The commission said it had noted with concern what it described as sustained and inaccurate statements about the management and integrity of election results. It warned that repeated false claims by political leaders could damage trust ahead of upcoming municipal elections.

Evidence and safeguards

The IEC rejected the EFF allegation concerning Mponegele Primary School, saying the results slips in its possession confirm that the Mponegele Primary School vote count matches the results captured on its official Results System.

On the integrity of the process the commission said:

“The Electoral Commission wishes to indicate that South Africa’s result collation process is robust and predicated on transparency, extensive safeguards, and checks and balances which are designed to protect the integrity of the election results.”

The IEC emphasised that result slips completed at voting stations represent the final record of the political will of voters in each voting district and highlighted multiple procedural safeguards.

How results are protected, the IEC says

• Counting at voting stations takes place in the presence of party agents and observers.
• Result slips are completed at voting stations and countersigned by party representatives.
• Results are captured through a double‑blind capture system and independently audited against result slips.
• Political parties may audit the results system, access voting station results through Results Operating Centres, and photograph and broadcast completed result slips.

The IEC reiterated that these measures are designed to ensure transparency and credibility.

Engagement with the EFF

The commission said senior officials are scheduled to meet with EFF leadership on 21 May 2026 to discuss the party’s concerns and broader election readiness matters. The IEC described the meeting, requested by the EFF, as part of ongoing stakeholder engagement.

The IEC added that it remains open to constructive engagement with all political parties through Political Liaison Committees, aimed at strengthening electoral democracy and maintaining public trust in the integrity of elections.

Why this matters locally

In the run‑up to municipal elections, the IEC framed its response as an effort to protect public confidence in how votes are counted and collated, cautioning that unsubstantiated claims could undermine that trust.