FREE DAILY EMAIL

Date : 21/02/2006
Source: Independent Electoral Commission
Title: Bam: Launch of IEC National Operations Centre


  Address by the IEC Chairperson, Dr Brigalia Bam, at the launch of the National Operations Centre in Pretoria

Cabinet Ministers,
Fellow Electoral Commissioners,
Chief Electoral Officer,
Representatives of Observer Missions,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Business Leaders,
Members of the Media,
All protocols observed:

In just seven days from now, our people – from the length and breadth of the country - will be going to the polls, marking the second local government elections to be held in South Africa. They will be casting their votes for candidates and political parties of their choice – and at the end of these elections - their will be known and their voices shall be heard.

State of democracy and challenges:

South Africa should now be proud that its young democracy is maturing. We have run three national and provincial elections, and two nation-wide local government elections, all of which were declared free and fair. Twelve years into democracy, we have laid the foundations for the design and implementation of policies to ensure democratic consolidation, competitive multiparty engagement, and citizen participation.

This country has never gone to elections without any challenges. This is not peculiar to South Africa, it happens all over the world. South Africa goes into these elections very aware of some of the challenges we have as a nation. Just as we had in the past; men and women of goodwill are hard at work to ensure that these challenges are overcome.

We have demonstrated to the country and the world our capabilities to weave our way through difficult circumstances and that has been possible through outstanding leadership. It is that kind of responsible leadership displayed by political parties when canvassing for votes in the upcoming municipal elections.

Campaigning thus far has been robust and within the provisions of the Electoral Code of Conduct. I therefore want to thank leaders of political parties for having adhered to the code, showing political maturity. This really is no mean feat.

Since the first democratic elections in 1994, we have seen a significant growth in the number of political parties in South Africa. For instance, a total of 97 parties are participating in the 2006 elections compared to 79 in the 2000 municipal elections, showing a 19 percentage growth. This is a measure of the healthy state of multiparty and maturing multi-party democracy.

State of readiness – nationwide:

I have to inform you with great certainty that the whole country is ready for these elections. The climate prevailing presently is conducive to hold elections, except for few isolated areas that are surprisingly attracting attention from the media. This undue attention is in stark contrast when one looks at the number of municipalities that will be contesting the elections, totalling no less than 280.

State of readiness – IEC:

Ladies and Gentlemen, preparations for these elections started 10 days after the 2004 elections, when the IEC provided data to the municipal demarcation board for purposes of demarcating wards and boundaries. Since then we have never looked back. We have never spared an effort to analyse registration gaps and pursuing voters as identified in the registration gaps. It is no wonder our voters roll has a record of registered voters of over 21 million.

In terms of the infrastructure, the IEC has increased the voting stations from 17000 in 1994 to 19000 in the upcoming elections. This enables easy access and less time spent in queues by voters. The Commission has further recruited 169 661 electoral staff to manage these voting stations. The electoral staffs are well equipped and ready to execute their mandate on that day.

Technological innovations like the zip-zip scanner introduced in 1998 were only used in registering voters into the voters roll. This time around, this important instrument is going to be used to locate and verify people on the voters roll. This quick method will help in limiting the time spent in the voting process.

The upcoming elections have attracted no less than 3 600 observers representing 31 accredited organisations. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is represented by 15 observers. This augurs well for our democracy, taking into account that these are local government and not national elections.

A total of 45 189 candidates countrywide will contest these elections. This represents 50% increase in participating candidates compared to the year 2000 elections. We have a total of 283 municipalities and 3895 wards nationally.

According to an independent survey conducted by the Human Research Council on voter behaviour; over 90% of all South Africans have identity documents (IDs). All registered voters have also indicated that they are registered in districts in which they are currently residing. The essence of all this indicates much interest on the part of the voters in taking part in elections.

Results operation centres:

Intensive monitoring on the ground is essential throughout Election Day. Monitoring mechanisms are in place from voting station level up to national level to ensure that problems are resolved as quickly as possible.

Provincial and national operations centres have been established to monitor the opening of stations and progress with voting and counting. These operations centres form major hubs of activity for election administrators, political parties and the media. They allow a more centralised approach to monitoring and information collection, sharing and distribution.

In the 1999 national and provincial elections the IEC established an election centre - a central hub in Pretoria to focus on all management and results activities. This initiative proved to be a resounding success. It provided an opportunity for political parties, the media (both local and international), and government and business leaders to interact freely with the election results verification process. This election centre put the primary objective of the IEC - to deliver a transparent and free election - on display for the world to see. The success of the 1999 election centre and recommendations by political parties and the media persuaded the IEC to establish a similar centre for the municipal elections in 2000 and the national elections in 2004.

The national election centre for the 2006 municipal election is a 12 000 m2 hall at the Pretoria international show grounds (as in 1999 and 2004). The hall will be used as an IEC command and control centre for all voting and results activities, as a focal point for political parties to monitor incoming results, as a central point from which the national and international media can report, and as a hub where the public, politicians, business and government leaders can interact.

During the election period, the Commissioners and the executive and electoral operations staff will virtually make the national operations centres their homes. Electoral Commission activities at the national election centre in Pretoria will include a results system technical help desk, a results problem-resolution authority, an electoral operations "nerve centre", an extensive information technology division, and a geographic information system group that will prepare interactive, map-based graphics displays for the large projection screens, for the media, and for dissemination via the IEC intranet to provincial operations centres.

Technology in elections:

Good technology is appropriate technology – it meets identified needs, it exceeds expectations, it makes a difference. The IEC has become known for its use of technology in conducting elections. Technology has been used not only to promote arrangements within the short time frames associated with preparations for elections, but also to provide the foundation upon which fundamental electoral operations depend. The technology for the 2004 elections has been improved to meet deadlines and ensure efficiency.

Partnerships making the elections a success:

An election is made possible through a cooperation of many institutions. It is an effort of a nation that has the will to create conducive conditions for an election to be held. In this regard the IEC wishes to acknowledge the efforts of many stakeholders that have worked tirelessly to make this election possible. These stakeholders include:

* Political Parties
* Government departments; especially the Department of Home Affairs for remaining opened throughout the registration period and making sure that IDs are issued
* Civil Society Organisations
* The Youth
* Women Groupings
* Business
* Labour
* Religious Formations
* The Media
* As well as sponsors

Ladies and gentlemen I am delighted to announce the readiness of the IEC to conduct the 2006 municipal elections. I therefore declare the National Operations Centre open.

I thank you.

Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
22 February 2006
   

SPONSORED BY

Advanced