The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has until 11am on Saturday to appoint an independent audit firm to investigate claims of voting irregularities.
A group of 27 small parties that contested the elections has given the IEC the ultimatum.
In a letter written by their lawyers, the parties threaten to seek relief from the Electoral Court, should the electoral body fail to meet the deadline. They say they will petition the court to stop the announcement of the election result scheduled for Saturday night.
The aggrieved parties have detailed allegations of various irregularities committed during the voting process on Wednesday. These include double voting and the use of ink that could be erased in some instances.
The IEC says the matter is with its lawyers and it will respond to the parties in due time.
On Thursday IEC CEO, Sy Mamabolo, announced the Commission would urgently conduct an audit of the results and votes cast in a sample of voting stations, to establish whether the allegations of double voting were true.
While the move has been widely welcomed, the parties disputing the 2019 poll are calling for the independent audit “not affiliated and captured by government” as well as “a rerun of the elections which will be inclusive and well safeguarded.”
Police have confirmed 22 people to have been arrested for allegedly violating a section of the Electoral Act.
Hans-Jurie Moolman is the Lawyer for smaller parties objecting election results:
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