With preparations for the 2014 National and Provincial Elections well under way, the Electoral Commission (IEC) has begun its consultation process with key stakeholders in the South African electoral democracy.
Following a successful meeting with representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) in February, the IEC yesterday held a consultative meeting with faith-based organisations and traditional leaders in preparation for the 2014 elections.
The consultative meeting ended with the formation of the national Civil Society Elections and Democracy Working Group, whose task it will be to advise and coordinate the work of the civil society as it relates to electoral democracy. The working group will further focus on three aspects of entrenching electoral democracy, being civic and voter education, conflict management, as well as elections observation.
The Kempton Park-based meeting was opened by Commissioner Terry Tselane, Vice-Chairperson of the IEC. Professor Muxe Nkondo, Chairperson: National Informal Business Development Reference Group at the Department of Trade and Industry, then delivered the keynote address.
“Voter education must be guided by the singular reality that those whose democratic participation in elections and other matters of public interest is at issue are the ordinary people of South Africa, most of them poor,” said Nkondo.
“So long as we keep this fact in focus, South African democracy will evolve in ways that will enhance its meaning,” he added.
Nkondo reminded attendees of the need for a voter education strategy that took into account the needs of the poor. Furthermore, he noted, voter education must take cognizance of political and social realities as manifested in each community.
He went on to observe that although there are no easy and immediate solutions in this regard, the reality is that poor men and women rely heavily on traditional and religious leaders in their communities for both moral and material support.
“Chiefs and priests often play a very important role before, during, and after the election. Not so much because they have a formal position in government, but because they strengthen the electoral process with their expertise, enthusiasm, donations, or supply of helping hands. This circle of real supporters of voter education, organised around traditional and religious leaders, is of vital importance for deliberative and participatory democracy. It is the warm body without which no Republic can stay healthy in the long run,” Nkondo continued.
The Civil Society Elections and Democracy Working Group will continue to act as a liaison and consultation mechanism between the IEC and civil society organisations. It is hoped that this relationship will result in a vibrant voter education programme that will animate young people, especially, to participate in next year’s elections.
The working group will also seek avenues for fundraising to enable civil society organisations to effectively observe elections in 2014.
For media queries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
For media interviews:
E-mail: spokesperson@elections.org.za
