Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mr Glen Mashinini announcement of results for the 2016 Municipal Elections
Welcome
Thank you Chief Electoral Officer Mr Mosotho Moepya,
Your Excellency the President of the Republic of South Africa the Honourable Mr Jacob Zuma,
Your Excellency the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa the Honourable Mr Cyril Ramaphosa,
Chief Justice the Honourable Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng,
The Minister of Home Affairs the Honourable Mr Malusi Gigaba,
The Deputy Ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs the Honourable Mr Obed Bapela and Mr Andries Nel,
Vice Chairperson Terry Tselane and Fellow Commissioners Judge Thami Makhanya; the Reverend Bongani Finca and Ms Janet Love,
Former Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission Justice Johann Kriegler and Dr Brigalia Bam,
Chairpersons and leaders of fellow Chapter 9 institutions,
Honourable Leaders of Political Parties,
High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Excellencies and members of the diplomatic corps,
Members of the National Political Party Liaison Committee,
Members of international and domestic observer groups,
The Chairperson and members of the Municipal Demarcation Board,
Representatives of the Security Cluster,
Members of the Electoral Commission executive committee and leaders,
Staff of the Electoral Commission,
Representatives of local government and Municipal Electoral Officers present,
Representative of civil society groups, Non-Governmental Organisations, faith-based organisations and traditional leaders,
Members of the media,
Fellow South Africans,
Honoured guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Introduction
When we launched the 2016 Municipal Elections campaign in January this year, I said these elections would be a litmus test for both the Electoral Commission and South Africa.
At that time many questions were being asked about the integrity of the Electoral Commission, the electoral process and indeed the willingness and ability of South Africa as a whole to remain true to its democratic ideals and values.
I ended that launch speech with the following appeal to all partners in the democratic process – that on Election Day:
Our country should be proud to proclaim to the world that we are still flying high the banner of electoral integrity, excellence, and free and fair elections. Further that we send a resounding message to the world at large that we South Africans remain a beacon of pre-eminence in the conduct of electoral democracy.
Mr President, fellow South Africans
I am proud to say that every stakeholder responded positively to this call and we have indeed sent a message to our own people and to the world that South Africa is a thriving, vibrant and maturing democracy.
Free and fair
Distinguished guests
When it comes to municipal elections, the results are determined for each municipality at local level in terms of Section 64 (1) (b) of the Municipal Electoral Act.
The role of the Commission is to satisfy itself that the conditions for free and fair elections were met in all these municipalities and, in so doing, to certify these results.
Among the factors which the Commission must consider in declaring an election free and fair is firstly whether the electoral regulations, laws and agreed processes were followed.
Secondly, where irregularities and breaches did occur, what impact this had on the outcome of the election. I am pleased to announce that the Electoral Commission has satisfied itself that the conditions for free and fair elections were met and that the results for 212 councils are certified.
As noted by the Chief Electoral Officer, the results for the City of Johannesburg are still being finalised – which we anticipate occurring within the next few hours. In addition, the Electoral Commission in considering objections has referred a matter to the Electoral Court which may lead to a revote in six wards in Stellenbosch.
As all of you know, the municipal elections in South Africa are a combination of ward and Proportional Representation (PR) voting systems. These results are combined to calculate the final seat allocations to ward councillors and PR councillors.
In local municipalities voters also voted for 40 percent of the councillors to serve on the 44 District Councils. However, the final process of electing the District Councils can only be finalised once the local councils have been established and have elected members to these District Councils.
For this reason I am also not going to include the District Council results in my presentation tonight.
Results: National Overview
Distinguished guests, time and your attention span does not allow me to announce the results for all municipal councils this evening.
Instead permit me to provide the country with a national overview of the outcome of these elections followed by a brief look at the results in seven of our country’s 8 metros.
Excluding the District Council seats, there were 9 301 council seats up for grabs in this election.
Of these:
- The African National Congress won 5 080 seats or 48.3 percent
- The Democratic Alliance won 1 723 seats or 13.8 percent
- The Economic Freedom Fighters won 731 seats or 6.9 percent
- The Inkatha Freedom Party won 427 seats or 4.2 percent
- The Vryheidsfront Plus won 66 seats (0.56 percent)
- The United Democratic Movement won 58 seats (0.56 percent)
- The African Independent Congress won 51 seats (0.45 percent)
- The Congress of the People won 44 seats (0.4 percent)
- The Forum for Service Delivery won 27 seats (0.29 percent)
- And independent candidates won 26 seats or 0.25 percent
- Other political parties won the remaining 225 seats or 2 percent
In terms of the 213 municipalities contested:
- The African National Congress achieved a majority in 161 municipalities
- The Democratic Alliance achieved a majority in 19 municipalities
- And the Inkatha Freedom Party achieved a majority in 6 municipalities
In 26 municipalities no party achieved a majority – which are known as hung councils.
Let us now look briefly at the outcome of the elections in South Africa’s metros.
Eastern Cape:
In Buffalo City
- The African National Congress won 60 seat
- The Democratic Alliance won 24 seats
- The Economic Freedom Fighters won 8 seats
- The African Independent Congress won 4 seats
- And one seat each went to:
- The African Christian Democratic Party
- The Congress of the People
- The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
- And the United Democratic Movement
In Nelson Mandela Bay
- The Democratic Alliance won 57 seats
- The African National Congress won 50 seats
- The Economic Freedom Fighters won 6 seats
- The United Democratic Movement won 2 seats
- And one seat each went to:
- The African Christian Democratic Party
- The African Independent Congress
- The Congress of the People
- The Patriotic Alliance
- And The United Front of the Eastern Cape
Free State:
In Manguang:
- The African National Congress won 58 seats
- The Democratic Alliance won 27 seats
- The Economic Freedom Fighters won 9 seats
- The African Independent Congress won 2 seats
- The Vryheidsfront Plus won 2 seats
- The Agency for a New Agenda won 1 seat
- The Congress of the People won 1 seat
In Gauteng:
In Ekurhuleni:
- The African National Congress won 109 seats
- The Democratic Alliance won 77 seats
- The Economic Freedom Fighters won 25 seats
- The African Independent Congress won 4 seats
- The Inkatha Freedom Party and Vryheidsfront plus won 2 seats each
- And one seat each was won by:
- The African Christian Democratic Party
- The Congress of the People
- The Independent Ratepayers Association
- The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
- And The Patriotic Alliance
In Tshwane:
- The Democratic Alliance won 93 seats
- The African National Congress won 89 seats
- The Economic Freedom Fighters won 25 seats
- The Vryheidsfront Plus won 4 seats
- And one seat each went to:
- The African Christian Democratic Party
- The Congress of the People
- The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
As I noted earlier, the results for the City of Johannesburg are still being finalised.
But I can give you a preliminary overview of support for the leading parties with 99 percent of the voting districts completed:
- The African National Congress had received 43.38 percent of votes.
- The Democratic Alliance had received 39.66 percent.
- The Economic Freedom Fighters had received 10.96 percent.
- The Inkatha Freedom Party had received 1.77 percent.
- The African Independent Congress had received 1.47 percent.
KwaZulu-Natal:
In eThekwini:
- The African National Congress won 126 seats
- The Democratic Alliance won 61 seats
- The Inkatha Freedom Party won 10 seats
- The Economic Freedom Fighters won 8 seats
- The African Independent Congress won 3 seats
- And one seat each went to
- The African Christian Democratic Party
- The African Peoples Convention
- Al-Jama-ah
- The Democratic Liberal Congress
- Minorities of South Africa
- The Minority Front
- And the Truly Alliance
Western Cape
In the City of Cape Town:
- The Democratic Alliance won 154 seats
- The African National Congress won 57 seat
- The Economic Freedom Fighters won 7 seats
- The African Christian Democratic Party won 3 seats
- Al-Jama-ah won 2 seats
And one seat each went to:
- The African Independent Congress
- The Cape Muslim Congress
- The Congress of the People
- The Democratic Independent Party
- The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
- The Patriotic Alliance
- The United Democratic Movement
- And Vryheidsfront Plus
Conclusion
Distinguished guests
Our slogan for these elections was “The future is in your hands”. It was a message we sent to the voters of South Africa.
Those voters have now spoken and they have chosen. They have sent a message of the future they want in their villages, towns, cities and metros.
The responsibility to deliver on this promised future now passes to the 9 301 councillors who have been elected in this election.
Our future is now in your hands.
Take good care of it.
Your Excellency Mr President, distinguished guests, fellow South Africans it is now my great privilege on behalf of the Electoral Commission to declare the 2016 Municipal Elections free and fair… and finished!
I thank you!
