Thumbs up for SA's elections
Thapelo Sakoana, Richard Mantu and David Masango
3 March 2006A Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer mission has given the thumbs-up to South Africa's local government elections.
The 15-member Electoral Commission Forum (ECF) delegation has declared the elections smooth, calm, peaceful and orderly.
The ECF brings together electoral commissions in the SADC region. It was established to promote cooperation and the development of best electoral practices in an effort to deepen democracy in the region.
Addressing reporters at the IEC's national operations centre in Pretoria on Thursday, mission leader Rev Felix Mokobi of Botswana said: "It is our considered view that the IEC was indeed prepared to conduct the 2006 municipal elections …We therefore wish to congratulate the commission for a job well done."
He also commended all stakeholders, including political parties and the public, "for their continued confidence" in the country's electoral processes.
Election results were still trickling in, with the IEC indicating that 90% of the results might be posted by sunset on Thursday.
The ANC was still leading nationally with 67.2% of votes, bagging 105 councils, the DA following with 14.6% and seven councils.
The IFP had won two councils, constituting 7.5% of the votes, followed by the Independent Democrats (ID) with 2.1% of votes, having won no council as yet.
The other parties had not as yet captured enough votes to win a council.
Source: BuaNews
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