IEC appoints officials with 'higher maths literacy' for vote counting
The Independent Electoral Commission said on Wednesday that it had appointed new officials with higher maths literary to assist with the counting of ballots.
South Africans received three ballots for the first time this year due to a Constitutional Court ruling allowing independent candidates to stand for the National Assembly.
South Africans queued late into the night to vote Wednesday, forcing polling stations to remain open beyond closing time in a landmark general election, with the ANC fighting to protect its three-decade-long grip on power.
More than 27 million voters were registered for the most uncertain poll since the end of apartheid.
The IEC said it projected turnout to go "well beyond" the 66% recorded in the last election in 2019.
Briefing the media as election day drew to a close, the IEC's CEO Sy Mamabolo said the appointment of the new officials is meant to improve the quality of the counting process.
“The recruitment criteria for this staff was slightly different from the rest of the staff as high levels of numeracy were mandatory. Three such staff were appointed for each voting station and each substation where we operate a voting centre.”
With 14% of the votes captured nationally, the ANC stood on 42.58% and the DA on 25.82%.
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