IEC buzzing as results filter in
2011-05-19 08:03
Pretoria - As dawn broke over the SA on
Thursday, journalists and politicians closely watched a large screen at the
IEC's results centre in Pretoria displaying updated local government elections
results.
Some who spent the entire night at the centre
refilled their cups of coffee, in an attempt to keep their eyes open.
ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said the
party had suffered from “high blood pressure” since Wednesday evening, when the
numbers were “going up and down”.
“There are some of us who have not slept the
entire evening… I had about an hour's rest,” Mthembu said, whilst having a cup
of coffee and biscuits.
He said even though it was still early, and
results from major metros had not filtered in, the party was confident of doing
well.
“The numbers seem to be stabilising… We think
that other smaller parties are being gobbled up, but we seem to be retaining
our support base.”
Asked when the party would make public the
cost of campaigning, Mthembu said “that would not be made public... maybe not
even in the next year. We will have to discuss that with our NEC first. We are
likely to make a declaration in member meetings… it's difficult to put a time
frame on it.”
- SAPA
