/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has emphasised the importance of enhanced voter education especially given the new voting regime with three ballots. The committee received an update from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) yesterday on preparations for the upcoming national and provincial elections.
 
The chairperson of the committee, Mr Mosa Chabane, said: “It is important that the Electoral Commission of South Africa enhances its voter education initiatives to ensure that people are capacitated on how to vote during the elections, taking into consideration the three ballots that will be used during these elections.”
 
The committee heard that the IEC has planned extensive voter education initiatives that will focus on the three ballots, on special votes and voting where registered. These initiatives will focus on face-to-face education, social media platforms, television, radio, and printed information factsheets. The committee has called for the effective implementation of these plans to ensure that voters are adequately capacitated to vote correctly.
 
Meanwhile, the committee welcomed the assurance that recruitment of about 200 000 voting staff is underway. Also, the information that the training of Presiding Officers, Deputy Presiding Officers and Voter’s Roll Officers will commence this month. The committee reiterated that training is important to make the voting process seamless. It has called for the conclusion of the recruitment process of the 200 000-voting staff to ensure that they are also trained and equipped with information especially in view of the new system which will be implemented for the first time in 2024.
 
It is also worth noting that procurement process for electoral materials have been finalised. Also important is that ballot paper printing capacity is in place and only awaits the finalisation of candidate nomination process and printing will happen between 10 April and 8 May 2024. The committee welcomes the assurance that the IEC has put in place contingency plans to mitigate the impact of loadshedding on voting and counting process.
 
The committee appreciated the plans of mitigation that are in place for risks such as longer ballots which might result in longer queues. The IEC informed the committee that they will have queue walkers to ensure that voters are in the right voting stations and ballot orientation posters to help with orientation of ballot, and minimise the risk of miscast or spoilt ballots. Similarly, the committee accepted the assurances that the IEC is working well with the security cluster to maintain peace and stability prior and during elections.
 
The clarification by the IEC that the invitation of election observers falls squarely under it and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has reaffirmed the committee’s strong belief that opportunism around this matter is unacceptable and has a potential to undermine the good name of the IEC. “The committee welcomes the clarification as it demystifies the assertions that political parties can invite electoral observers. South Africa’s electoral systems have been observed since the democratic electoral process started and the assurance that over 52 organisations have been certified to observe the elections is welcomed,” Mr Chabane emphasised.    
 
The committee is assured that the IEC is ready for the elections and the presentation it received reaffirms the confidence it has on the capacity of the IEC and systems within the IEC to deliver a credible, free, and fair electoral process. Despite this, it has cautioned political parties against acting outside the set code of conduct and it has emphasised the need to utilise dispute resolution mechanisms in cases of disputes. The committee was unanimous in denouncing political parties fuelling violence and mayhem around democratic electoral processes.  
 
The committee has resolved to undertake an oversight visit to the IEC to witness first-hand the preparations for the elections. The date for that visit will be communicated in due course.
 
The committee also received a briefing on the Marriage Bill [B43 -2023] introduced on 13 December 2023. The committee resolved that the IEC will in most probability not meet the Constitutional Court deadline of 27 June 2024, an application to the Constitutional Court should be made for an extension of further 24 months to allow Parliament to conduct extensive public hearings. While the application for extension is underway, the committee will open the call for public comments on the Bill.
 

Issued by the Paliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee oh Home Affairs, Mosa Chabane