Mr Glenton Vuma Mashinini’s speech of acceptance for role of Chair: Electoral Commission
Fellow Commissioners,
Members of the Executive Committee and leadership of the Electoral Commission,
Members of the media,
Distinguished guests,
Fellow South Africans,
Ladies and gentlemen.
It is with great sense humility that I have accepted the responsibility to Chair the Electoral Commission – one of the institutions that is at the very heart of entrenching our constitutional democracy through the conduct of free and fair elections.
Allow me at the outset to thank the President of the Republic of South Africa for having faith in my abilities. I am deeply grateful too to Parliament and its Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, as well as the interview panel comprised of leaders of Chapter Nine institutions and chaired by the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, who nominated me to serve on the Commission.
I am all-too aware of the weight of responsibilities and expectations I am entrusted with, and which are integral to this position of a Chair. I am ready, willing and able to discharge my responsibilities with professionalism, integrity and commitment to our country and all its citizens.
As our democracy evolves, so too have these expectations. It goes without saying that the Electoral Commission is expected to improve and strengthen its capabilities to ensure that South African elections and outcomes represent a true reflection of the will of the people.
Ernest Barker captures this succinctly when he states: “The core of democracy is choice, and not something chosen; choice among a number of ideas, and choice, too, of the scheme on which those ideas are eventually composed” [Barker, E (1952) Principles of Social and Political Theory, page 207]. Our responsibility as the Commission is to give effect to that choice – the will of the people.
In every corner of our country, every citizen should be satisfied that our conduct as the Commission strengthens our country’s democracy and that our democratic processes are beyond reproach.
The political landscape in South Africa is also evolving. It too has become more robust, competitive and technically intricate. The Commission, therefore, must keep pace with this evolution by continuing to strive to rise to even higher standards of accountability, transparency, impartiality and integrity.
This is evidenced by the administration of elections which has also become more structured with constant improvements to ensure institutional excellence, by maintaining pre-eminent international electoral standards and by indomitable democracy development, education and outreach programme.
As a nation we know the Electoral Commission is the embodiment of democracy that enhances our state integrity, national stability, national and international legitimacy and undoubtedly our national pride.
I am proud to have been part of the establishment of this great institution and in entrenching the principles of democracy and the values of integrity, independence, transparency and accountability which underpin it.
The Electoral Commission is an institution rich in talent and which boasts a team of world-class, professional and highly experienced Commissioners, the Chief Electoral Officer, Senior Managers, Provincial Electoral Officers, Municipal Electoral Managers and Electoral Staff who since its inception continue to serve our country with distinction.
Following my appointment as a Commissioner in May this year, I was warmly welcomed and magnanimously inducted by the Vice Chairperson Commissioner Tselane. The Vice Chairperson introduced me first to the fellow Commissioners, the Chief Electoral Officer, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officers, all the nine Provincial Electoral Officers and Senior Managers. I wish to express first my gratitude to Vice Chairperson Commissioner Tselane and to thank all the colleagues for my warm welcome back home.
Through all these colleagues I have gained a reasonable understanding of the work and internal processes of this evolved organisation, in particular about ‘The State of Readiness’ for the 2016 Municipal Elections. I am satisfied that the Commission and its administrative and operational team is ready for the task and challenges ahead – noting of course that some processes have critical interdependencies with other state institutions. Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) remains the most critical dependency in the delivery of the 2016 Municipal Elections
The Electoral Commission is currently busy aligning voting districts to ward boundaries. The work to recruit and train registration staff is underway. Soon thereafter voter registration will take place. We will then await the proclamation of the elections.
We are already working with all stakeholders both internally in the Commission and externally including political parties, civil society and national security agencies to ensure we have climate conducive for a credible elections.
The responsibility to ensure free, fair and credible elections are not ours alone. As a Commission we also rely on the goodwill of South African citizens both young and old to make our democracy thrive. We invite all South Africans in cities, towns and rural areas, those in farming communities, the business community, various faith communities, traditions and cultures to play their part meaningfully to enhance our democracy.
We call upon those who are not yet registered to come forward as “Our future is in our hands, our nationhood is in our hands and our community is in our hands”.
Our commitment goes beyond our country but also to the continent and globally through our active participation in electoral multilateral organizations and in liaison with the Department of International Relations and Co-operation.
Ladies and gentlemen, the IEC is synonymous with the birth of a democratic and free South Africa. This institution is a national treasure which belongs to all of us.
Its value and currency are integrity and credibility. No-one will benefit from seeing our democracy and this institution undermined and tainted. The Commission remains fully committed to fulfilling our constitutional mandate of enhancing this electoral institution and deepening democracy in our country.
In conclusion, the Commission would like to call upon the Chief Electoral Officer and his team and the tens of thousands of electoral staff to join together in ensuring that we deliver a world-class electoral experience in 2016 Municipal Elections.
We will do this guided by the words of our statesman and icon, Nelson Mandela who said: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
This is our pledge.
I thank you!
For media queries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
For media interviews and a photograph of Commissioner Mashinini: Please email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za.
