24 January 2006
On Wednesday, 1 March 2006, voters will go to 18 873 voting stations
countrywide to cast their vote in the municipal elections.
As was the case with elections in 1999, 2000 and 2004 the Electoral
Commission of South Africa (IEC) will establish operations centres countrywide
with the aim of creating facilities for the media and other stakeholders where
they can easily access information on voting and the results.
National Operations Centre
The National Operations Centre will be in Pretoria: Hall J, Tshwabac Show
Grounds (previously Pretoria International Show Grounds), Soutter Street (off
DF Malan Street), Pretoria West.
Office space will be available for the media in the Centre and will include
the following:
* 3mx3m office that will be available from 22 February until 8 March
2006.
* Partitioning, ceiling, door with lock, carpet, electrical power point, light,
table and two chairs.
* Telephone line & instrument, network point (for IEC provided PC),
computer and shared printer.
For own cost
* Telephone call charges.
* Sound proofing of office.
Media representatives interested in office space should fax/e-mail the
details to Lydia Young on (012) 428 5429 or youngl@elections.org.za as soon as
possible but not later than Monday, 30 January 2006.
A pool area will be available to media representatives who are not
interested in offices. The pool area will be equipped with computers, printing
facilities, telephones and faxes. Except for the use of the telephones and
faxes, these facilities will be available free of charge.
Media representatives in the Centre will have access to reports on the
municipal elections results system. Training will be given on the use of the
system on dates still to be confirmed.
Accreditation for the National Operations Centre (NOC) in Pretoria is
compulsory. Since an electronic access control system, which incorporates a
digital photograph will be used to produce security cards for the Centre, media
representatives interested in making use of this facility will be required to
accredit in person. The following dates and times have been set aside for
accreditation:
* Between 09:00 and 16:00 from 6 to 17 February 2006 at Election House, 260
Walker Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria.
* Media representatives who are not able to accredit on these dates must please
inform Lydia Young not later than 13 February 2006.
* Requirements for accreditation include an ID Book/passport and press
card/original letter by their editor confirming employment.
* It will be appreciated if the attached accreditation form would be completed
before arrival for accreditation.
(A copy of the accreditation form will be sent, separately. Please contact
Lydia Young or the contact person for the operations centre in your province
for a copy of the accreditation form should you not receive it via e-mail.)
Provincial Results Operation Centres
Operations Centres will also be established in the nine provinces. Members
of the media who wish to make use of the facilities at these centres are
requested to call the contact person for the centre they are interested in
urgently to determine the requirements for that specific centre.
Eastern Cape
Contact person: Julie Stanworth on 043 709 4200
Free State
Contact person: Tabina Nathane on 051 401 5000
Gauteng
Contact person: Nthabi Tsipane on 011 644 7400
KwaZulu-Natal
Contact person: Thabisile Mabaso on 031 367 9900
Limpopo
Contact person: Thivhilaeli Nedohe on 015 291 0600
Mpumalanga
Contact person: Higgins Mdluli on 013 754 0200
North West
Contact person: Matlhodi Jebetle on 018 387 6500
Northern Cape
Contact person: Elkin Topkin on 053 838 5000
Western Cape
Contact person: Granville Abrahams on 021 944 5300
Enquiries:
Lydia Young
Tel: (012) 428 5425
Cell: 082 650 8625
Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
24 January 2006
