Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) regional leader Gardee Godrich has accused the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of undercounting votes in Seshego, Limpopo, sparking a dispute over the results.
Godrich claims that 900 EFF votes were recorded as only 300 in the official tally. He described the discrepancy as deliberate and called for an investigation to restore what he termed “the people’s mandate.”
The IEC has rejected the allegations, stating that its processes are transparent and subject to strict verification. A commission spokesperson said all results undergo checks and reconciliation between physical ballots and digital records.
The EFF has threatened legal action and plans to conduct its own audit, citing affidavits from party agents who observed irregularities during counting.
Political analysts warn that unresolved claims of this nature could weaken public trust in electoral fairness. Opposition parties and civil society groups have called for a calm and thorough review.
The IEC has agreed to review discrepancies in Seshego and invited political parties to observe the process. Preliminary findings are expected by the end of the week, with final results pending the outcome.
The situation remains tense as residents and political groups await clarity on whether the difference resulted from human error, technical issues, or procedural failure.