IEC audit trail contradicts ANC's technical-failure claim in candidate list submission

South Africa's Electoral Commission (IEC) disputes the ANC's assertion that technical problems caused its candidate-list submission failure for the 2026 local elections, citing audit records showing the party delayed the final submission until the last minute. The dispute raises questions about the ANC's electoral readiness and could affect its participation in upcoming municipal polls. The IEC's pushback suggests a political accountability issue rather than a systemic technical failure.