IS THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION READY FOR A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION 2014?
The election on May 7, 2014 will be the most closely contested in the history of our young democracy. South Africans have been rightly proud of the track record of the IEC over the last two decades that has earned its respect far and wide in the global community. Our multi-party democracy can only be stronger if the IEC remains beyond reproach. There is reason to be concerned about the commitment of IEC officials to the ideals of free and fair elections.
Events surrounding the Tlokwe 2013 by-elections where alleged impropriety by IEC electoral officers including refusal to register independent candidates to protect the ANC from competition, has raised serious questions about the independence and reliability as an agent of free and fair elections. In addition the cloud hanging over the Chair of the IEC, Ms Pansy Tlakula following the findings of the Public Protector that she acted improperly in the procurement of the lease of the current IEC Head Quarters, makes her an inappropriate custodian of free and fair elections. We need a higher level of integrity in the IEC for us to have greater confidence that the election this year will be safeguarded to ensure that it is free and fair.
The governing African National Congress (ANC) faces challenges it has not previously had to overcome. Its traditional election machinery is stalling, with the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and the Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU) mere shadows of their former selves, the decision of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) to withdraw electoral support from the ANC, widespread discontent with President Zuma and his policies that are being demonstrated through widespread protests - there have been almost 3 000 in the last three months alone.
Agang SA demands that independent monitors should be deployed at electoral stations across the country, and that teachers, who have in the past been deployed to manage these stations and who are members of the South African Democratic Trade Union (SADTU), which is a COSATU affiliate organization be removed from this role. There is an inherent conflict of interest in SADTU member as part of the ANC Tripartite Alliance to be electoral officers in a multi-party election process. In addition, when do they do their primary duties if they play the electoral officer role that demands so much attention to detail?
In addition, the Independent Electoral Commission should inform all contesting political parties which organisation has won the tender to print ballot papers and the basis for their selection.
We have reason to worry about the risks to the integrity of the ballot printing process. Do the ballots have serial numbers? What security exists to ensure non-tampering with the ballots? Under what circumstances are extra ballot papers printed, stored and allocated to voting stations? The IEC has confirmed to our party agent in a recent meeting that it intends to print and distribute 5% to 10% more ballot papers than the possible voters in each voting district.
The IEC should also spell out how it intends to protect the election against potential voter fraud and should identify the auditing firm contracted to monitor the election as early as possible from the printing of ballots, their storage, choice of electoral officers, allocation of ballots, choice of Voting Stations, counting at the Voting Stations, posting of results on the doors of Voting Stations and tallying of all votes in the presence of all contesting political parties. Political Parties need to have sufficient time to engage with them to ensure the required checks and balances are in place.
It has also come to our notice that cell phones are abused by some political party activists to undermine the secrecy of the vote. Voters are intimidated or bribed into taking photos of their completed ballot paper in exchange for reward for voting the right way. This is the ultimate risk to free and fair elections and damages the very foundations of citizen power and right to choose in secret the person or party they would like to entrust with public office.
Crucially, the IEC allows two representatives from the political parties to be present inside the voting room where votes are cast - Agang SA urges the IEC to explain how these representatives will be monitored, particularly in rural areas.
This election, more than any previous poll in our short democratic history, needs to be protected from the electoral fraud that has already allegedly been perpetrated in Tlokwe. No stone should be left unturned in our electoral processes to ensure that the integrity of what so many heroes have struggled to achieve - the right to vote. We need to encourage all citizens to use the power of their vote to choose freely who can best build South Africa into a winning country it can again become.
Statement issued by Mark Peach, Director of Communication - Agang SA, February 19 2014
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