Most people, even some who have been intimately involved in its organisation, regard an election as completed when the final results are announced – an event which took place last Saturday night.
In fact, the final and most fundamental indicator for the Electoral Commission that an election has been successfully concluded is the designation of representatives.
Item 16 of Schedule 1A of the Electoral Act (Act 73 of 1998) requires – and I quote –
“After the counting of votes has been concluded, the number of representatives of each party has been determined and the election results have been declared in terms of section 190 of the Constitution, the Commission must, within two days after such declaration, designate from each list of candidates the representatives of each party in the legislature.”
Earlier this week we gazetted this list of final designated representatives for the National Assembly and each of the nine provincial legislatures. Today we present this list to Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in anticipation of the swearing in of these individuals as Members of Parliament and as Members of Provincial Legislatures.
For us as the Electoral Commission this is the final milestone of a journey which began many months ago to prepare for and host the fifth national and provincial elections in our young democracy.
This mammoth and extraordinary undertaking involved 218 000 election officials, 45 political parties, almost 9 000 candidates, 18. 65 million voters, nearly 63 million ballot papers, 22 263 voting stations in South Africa and a further 116 voting stations in 108 countries around the world.
Many millions of hours of work later, we have finally reached the conclusion of the 2014 National and Provincial Elections. The effort yielded a list of 830 individual candidates.
Of these 830 people, approximately 42 percent are women and 58 percent are men.
The average age of our representatives is 50 years old with the oldest being 85 years old and the youngest being just 22.
The provincial legislature with the best gender equity is Limpopo where almost 47 percent of the 49 representatives will be women. The Limpopo Legislature will also have our youngest representative.
The 830 individuals represent 15 political parties - 13 of which will be represented in the National Assembly and a further two will be represented only in provincial legislatures. Between them these 830 individuals represent the diversity of our country and its many vibrant races, cultures, languages, religions and traditions.
While these individuals have been selected according to a proportional representation system on the basis of the votes received for their parties, they also represent the 18.65 million voters who participated in last week’s elections and who have mandated these individuals to represent them and their interests over the next five years.
In our communication initiatives to encourage voter registration and participation ahead of these elections, the Electoral Commission told voters that voting was the way to make their voices heard, to have their say in the future of our country, to participate in the running of our country.
These 830 individuals are expected to represent all the people of South Africa, whether they voted or not, and if they did, irrespective of the party they voted for.
My message to each of these individuals who have been honoured and privileged to receive the support of millions of South African voters is to serve the next five years with pride and humility.
Chief Justice Mogoeng it is an honour to provide you with the list of designated representatives for the nine provincial legislatures and the National Assembly.
Thank you!
