By Hopewell Radebe – SANF 04 no 30
South African elections held on 14 April, ended with monitors representing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other African bodies expressing satisfaction over the process.
South Africa’s third elections, whose preliminary results showed the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), to be winning with a two-thirds majority, were conducted without the monitoring services of renowned international observer groups such as the European Electoral Commission that has observed almost all third world elections.
The country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson, Dr Brigalia Bam said this was the first ‘vote of confidence’ in the country’s electoral process. It was also an indication that the world’s trust and confidence in “the integrity of the country’s democratic institutions” was growing.
The SADC observer team, for the first time a fully constituted body representing SADC rather than individual member states, had agents in all nine provinces. Praising the IEC, representatives in Pretoria said the commission has set a big challenge to the region, as some countries will also be conducting their general elections this year.
Veda Baloomoot, the chairperson of the SADC observer team, said considering that the SA elections were the first of the five that will be conducted this year in the region, its success challenges the other electoral commissions.
Voter turnout was above 80 percent in seven provinces, 66 percent in KwaZulu Natal while the Eastern Cape, where most senior ANC leaders originate, had the lowest voter turnout of about 58 percent.
Some voting stations experienced glitches such as power failure or the late delivery of voters’ roll, which caused delays and forced the IEC to extend the voting process to accommodate the long queues.
Few incidents marked the highlights of the election day with leader of one of the main political parties, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu Buthelezi, threatening to challenge the elections results from his stronghold province, KwaZulu Natal, because of alleged intimidation by members of the ruling ANC.
While Buthelezi conceded that intimidation and political violence was minimal compared to previous elections in the province, he told reporters in Mahlabathini in rural KwaZulu-Natal that IFP leaders and traditional leaders had been attacked in the run-up to the election.
Independent election monitors, both local and international, however, welcomed the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed during the entire process, saying problems were mainly technical and inevitable.
“We have no doubt the elections were run well and that the IEC has taught us a lot by ensuring that complaints by parties are tackled immediately and wherever possible resolved,” Baloomoot said.
For example, the IEC fired immediately and replaced at least 14 electoral officers after it was discovered they had gone campaigning with and on behalf of their political parties in breach of the electoral regulations.
To maintain the integrity of the electoral system, those contracted to work for the IEC are forbidden to align themselves with any contesting political party.
Baloomoot said it was commendable that the IEC accepted and involved their regional counterparts in the organisation of the elections. They showed them how conflicts were being resolved through party liaison committees set up in every province and voting districts, which included representatives of all contesting political parties.
According to Chief Electoral Officer, Pansy Tlakula, mediation was the main conflict resolution mechanism used to reduce clogging the electoral court with problems that could end up casting doubt on the integrity of elections.
Edwin Ijeoma of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Secretariat said the smooth electoral process in SA has both direct and indirect benefits for the region.
He said the country was an African economic powerhouse with the fastest growing economy in the continent. Continued stability in South Africa was thus essential to help sustain the African Union’s economic programme, NEPAD.
In the context of NEPAD, sovereignty can only be guaranteed by regular credible electoral processes as envisioned by the peer review mechanism, he said.
Ijeoma said the democratisation of the continent was an integral part of the continent’s development to ensure that it does not just end up being a dream.
“Multiparty democracy is what we need in Africa, we do not need a sovereignty without common economic or political governance, that is not part of the people, and where complete freedom of the press is not guaranteed.
“Good economic and political governance must follow the elections to be in line with NEPAD requirements,” noted Ijeoma.
Considering that the Democratic Republic of Congo is also preparing for its elections, the IEC has also organised special training in other aspects related to elections in a bid to transfer skills and experience.
In the process, other representatives such as the presidents, vice presidents and directors of electoral commissions in Gabon, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe have benefited from the project.
Before the end of 2004, about ten African countries will be conducting general elections, some national and others focusing on local government. Malawi will hold its elections on 18 May while Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia are expected to conduct theirs in the last quarter of this year. (SARDC)
Hopewell Radebe is the Deputy Political Editor of Business Day, South Africa.
