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South African voters will go to the polls on 7 May 2014 to cast their votes in the national and provincial elections

As was the case with previous elections, the Electoral Commission of (IEC) will establish a national results operation centre and nine provincial centres with the aim of creating facilities for the media and other stakeholders where they can easily access information on voting and the results.

National Results Operation Centre

The national Results Operation Centre will be in Pretoria: Hall J, Tshwane Events Centre (previously Pretoria International Show Grounds), Soutter Street (off DF Malan Street), Pretoria West.

Office space will be available for the media in the Centre and will include the following:

• 3m x 3m office which will be available from the launch of the Centre (usually one week before Election Day) until the announcement of the final results.
• Partitioning, door with lock, carpet, TWO electrical power points, table and two chairs.
• Telephone line & instrument for internal use, a network point with IEC provided computer to access the results and shared printer.

For own cost

• any additional requirements such as ADSLordata and external voice lines.

These offices are for use by media representatives who will be working from the Results Operation Centre for the duration of the election week, i.e. Election Day up to the announcement of the results.

Two forms are attached for completion – one for office space and one for technical requirements for broadcasters. Media representatives interested in office space should indicate their interest and broadcasters their technical requirements by completing the relevant form and emailingorfaxing it back to Lydia Young on YoungL@elections.org.za  012-622 5354 or Michael Ford on FordM@elections.org.za as soon as possible but not later than Friday, 28 February 2014.

A pool areaormedia centre will be available to media representatives who will not be working from the Centre or who are not interested in offices. This area will be equipped with tablesorchairs and computers to access the results. Copy and fax facilities will be available at the Business Centre. Except for the use of the fax, the facilities at the Centre will be available free of charge.

Media representatives in the Centre will have access to reports on the election results system. Training will be given on the use of the system on dates still to be confirmed.

Computers (IEC provided computers) linked to the results system will not have access to the Internet. Internet access will be available at the Business Centre. Members of the media will also be able to use their 3G cards.

Accreditation for the national Results Operation Centre (ROC) in Pretoria is compulsory.  Requirements, dates and times for this process will be forwarded as soon as it is available.

Provincial Results Operation Centres

Operation Centres will also be established in the nine provinces.

Members of the media who wish to make use of the facilities at these centres are requested to call the contact person for the centre they are interested in as soon as possible to determine the requirements for that specific centre.

• Eastern Cape: Kayakazi Magudumana or Pearl Ngoza on 043 709 4200
• Free State: Jabulani Tshabalala or Mmathabo Rasengane on 051 401 5000
• Gauteng: Thabo Masemula or Nico Moremi or Boitumelo Monaki on 011 644 7400
• KwaZulu-Natal: Thabani Ngwira on 084 505 5117 or Penny Ward on 031 279 2200      
• Limpopo: Mmemezi Dlamini on 083 496 3141 or Motsiri Ramafalo on 015 283 9100
• Mpumalangas: Jabu Mthethwa on 072 135 1107 or Sibusiso Nkosi on 013 754 0200
• North West: Kim Kresfelder on 078 931 2319 or 018 391 0800
• Northern Cape: Elkin Topkin on 082 650 4261 or Ntsoaki Sebeela on 053 838 5000.

Contact persons:
Derrick Marco
Cell: 082 560 7026

Trevor Davids
Tel: 021 910 5700

For media enquiries:
Lydia Young
Cell: 082 650 8652
Tel: 012 622 5425
Fax: 012 622 5354
E-mail: YoungL@elections.org.za  

Michael Ford
E-mail: FordM@elections.org.za