Developing story: figures are as presented by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on Thursday evening and will change as results are confirmed. This follows our earlier report that 65 of 213 municipalities were finalised.

IEC chair Mosotho Moepya said at a briefing on Thursday evening that most of the counting, "if not all of it", has been completed. Yet results for only 65 of the country's 213 municipalities had been confirmed, and verified results are anticipated on Sunday.

Until then, any party claim of victory is a projection, not a result.

What has been confirmed

According to the IEC briefing, none of Gauteng's nine municipalities had been confirmed. Limpopo stood at 5% and North West at 11%. In the Northern Cape, 21 of 26 municipalities were confirmed, and in the Western Cape 14 of 25. These figures exclude the 44 district municipalities, which are announced last, after local councils appoint supplementary councillors.

At 7pm on Thursday the IEC results portal showed 50% of votes counted. The IEC said it had resolved more than 1,000 queries and complaints since Monday.

Objections and recounts

Objections with justifiable reasoning must be submitted by Friday. Moepya said a party agent cannot delay results by contesting them at the voting station or by refusing to sign a results slip. He also said there is no automatic demand for a recount because a margin is small.

Moepya urged parties, independent candidates, the media and the public to exercise caution when interpreting partial results.

What happens next

The IEC is expected to present verified results on Sunday. Parties are then expected to have about two weeks to form coalitions in councils where no party wins a majority; that timeframe should be checked against the IEC's formal notice.

What we do not yet know

  • How the Limpopo (5%) and North West (11%) figures were measured. The briefing as reported does not make clear whether they are shares of municipalities or of votes.
  • When each Gauteng metro will be confirmed.
  • Whether any objections will change the timing of Sunday's declaration.