Closing KwaZulu-Natal election bell to ring today

The closing bell is set to ring on KwaZulu-Natal’s fiercely contested local government elections on Sunday, ushering in an era of coalition governments in many of the province’s municipalities.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is scheduled to announce the results at 6pm at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, following delays to resolve objections and recounts.

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Provisional results indicate that 32 of KZN’s 44 municipalities face hung councils, including Msunduzi and eThekwini, leaving parties to negotiate agreements to govern.

With about 98% of KZN’s votes counted by Saturday afternoon, the MK Party led with 34.6%, followed by the IFP on 20.6%, the ANC on 20.4% and the DA on 13.4%.

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IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said the commission had received 197 objections nationally by 3pm on Saturday. Of these, 54 had been dismissed, eight withdrawn and two upheld.

“Pertinently, provisional results may change as a consequence of the determination of an objection,” he said.