27 September 2007
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa will be hosting a
national conference at The Forum in Bryanston, Johannesburg from 8 to 10
October 2007, reflecting on the state of electoral democracy in South Africa.
The conference will focus on a number of areas including identifying
opportunities for partnerships to strengthen the programme on electoral
democracy and follow up on the deliberations or recommendations of the
International Conference on Sustaining Africa's Democratic Momentum which was
hosted by the Electoral Commission, the African Union and International IDEA in
March this year.
Given the importance of electoral democracy as a key objective in promoting
the values, attitudes, beliefs and norms of informed citizenship in society
particular the responsibility of society to socialise young people, it was
considered both timely and appropriate to host a major conference on the
subject as part of the IEC's 10th anniversary celebrations.
Furthermore, the public debates on issues related to electoral systems,
floor-crossing and party funding which is currently featured in the mainstream
media makes it an opportune time for the hosting of such a conference.
The October 2007 conference will be attended by delegates from all over
South Africa including representatives from political parties, civic-based
organisations, non-governmental organisations, academics and research
institutions, labour and business.
For more information, please contact:
Lydia Young
Cell: 082 650 8652
Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
27 September 2007
