The Electoral Commission (IEC) launched its national campaign for the fourth democratic elections of municipal councils in Midrand today. The municipal election will be held in 2011.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the IEC, Advocate Pansy Tlakula highlighted that the IEC is not lulled into complacency by whatever success they may have achieved in the previous elections that have been declared free and fair. Advocate Tlakula added, “As an election management body, we are always mindful of the huge responsibility that rests upon us, to out in place, and implement election management processes that will produce an outcome that will be accepted by all contesting political parties and candidates. We know that we can only do so if we are meticulous in our preparations for each election.”
The IEC indicated that preparations for these elections begun in earnest when the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) finalised and submitted the country’s new wards to the IEC on 1 September 2010. Following this submission of wards by the MDB, the IEC undertook an intense and careful re-alignment of its own voting district network to ensure that voters affected by the changes in the demarcation process are targeted and informed about how these changes affect them and where necessary, re-register them. This targeted communication and registration initiative was undertaken in the first two weeks of December 2010.
The 2011 municipal elections will take place in eight metropolitan councils, 226 local councils, 44 district councils and 4 277 wards. The IEC has established 20 868 voting districts for this purpose, with 633 of the voting districts serving as voting centres and dedicated to servicing densely populated voting districts. All the 20 868 voting districts will have their stations open for registration over the weekend of 5 and 6 February 2011, from 08h00 to 17h00 on each day. Just over 60 000 registration officials have been trained for the voter registration weekend and no less than 196 000 staff members will be recruited for Election Day. Party Liaison Committees have been consulted to ensure that presiding and deputy presiding officers comply with the criteria set for their appointment and that they would indeed discharge their responsibility impartially, efficiently and with distinction.
On the communication front, the Chairperson of the Commission, Dr Brigalia Bam unveiled the 2011 municipal elections campaign logo: Love your South Africa. The campaign seeks to evoke a sense of belonging and create a call to all eligible voters to respond to their love for South Africa by ensuring that they register and vote in these elections. The IEC has also activated its 0800 11 8000 toll free number to the Call Centre since 3 January 2011. This toll-free numbers is fully operational between 08h00 to 17h00, and voters can be assisted with any clarification pertaining to registration and voting in these elections.
Provinces will roll out voter and balloting education from the month of January 2011, to ensure that eligible voters are informed about the voting process.
An SMS facility has been made available to voters to check their registration details through a cell phone. This facility is user-friendly and is available on all three networks, namely Vodacom, MTN and Cell C. All that a voter has to do is to type in his/her identity number and send it to 32810 on all three networks and he/she will in return receive confirmation of his/her registration details.
In addition registration details can be verified at any time through the ‘Am I registered?’ facility on the IEC website at http://www.elections.org.za. Voters can check whether they are registered and if not, where they should register.
The IEC made a call to all eligible voters to use the facilities provided across the wide range of communication platforms to register and vote in these elections. “The love for South Africa must stir each one of us to participate in these elections,” Advocate Tlakula concluded.
Enquiries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
