South African Electoral Commission Confirms Readiness for Upcoming Polls

South Africa is gearing up for the upcoming general election on Wednesday, despite attempts to cast doubt on the credibility of the process. Videos circulating over the weekend have raised concerns about the transparency of the election, but the country remains prepared for the landmark event.

Special voting has already seen close to a million votes cast by those unable to participate on Wednesday. The polls are set to open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, with a total of over 27 million registered voters in a country with a population of 60 million, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo highlighted the orchestrated efforts to undermine the credibility of the election outcome during a briefing. He referenced videos showing an incident in the Eastern Cape province where a truck carrying electoral rolls was looted during a taxi strike, emphasizing that these actions were deliberate attempts to discredit the upcoming election.

Mamabolo expressed that any voter turnout exceeding the 66% recorded in 2019 would be considered satisfactory. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is facing the prospect of losing power for the first time, with polls indicating their support falling below 50%. If they fail to secure more than half of the votes, forming a coalition with other parties will be necessary to reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa under the parliamentary electoral system of the country.