Electoral Commission ready for elections 2009

21 April 2009

About 23 million South Africans were expected to cast their votes on
Wednesday and the Electoral Commission (IEC) said it was ready to deliver the
country’s fourth election.

“Our democracy is maturing. As we celebrate 15 years of democracy, the 2009
election has generated excitement,” said Brigalia Bam, Chairperson of the
Commission. “We are ready to deliver a peaceful election to be witnessed by of
4,900 domestic observers and 352 international observers. About 358 diplomats
from 61 embassies will also visit polling stations,” she said.

About 9 130 candidates appear on the various parties’ lists, 40 parties are
contesting the election for the national assembly and the nine provincial
legislatures, 26 parties are contesting for national assembly and 215 000
election officials have been recruited and trained.

Following are facts and figures for Wednesday’s poll: About 23 181 997
registered voters ; 86 578 special voters, 17 937 applications for the special
voting abroad in 106 countries were received; about two thirds of voting
stations are located at schools; 15 international organisations have sent 320
observers; 51 South African organisations have sent a total of 5 000 domestic
observers; about 55 million ballot papers were printed; about 450 tons of paper
was used in printing ballot papers and materials to be used include 394 400
staff identification stickers.

There are also 97 002 ballot boxes; 92 700 voting compartments; 46 700
stationery packs (49 tons of stationery) 40 000 banners; 30 000 zip-zip
scanners; 39 452 templates for Braille votes, 19 726 maps of voting districts;
2.25 million paper clips; 2 250 kilometres of packaging tape; 4.5 million
ballpoint pens; 90 000 refuse bags, 45 000 calculators, 2 250 kilograms of thin
cotton twine; 1 500 litres of ink to mark voters’ hands; 11 warehouses to store
voting material and lastly 215 000 officials recruited to work at the voting
stations across the country.

Polling stations open at 07h00 and close at 21h00. Special provision has
also been made for persons with disabilities and other physical challenges as
well as the blind. In addition, the commission produced voter and balloting
education booklets for the visually impaired.

Dr Bam said for the past 14 years the commission, had maintained its
independence as enshrined in the Constitution, and had ensured that democratic
values such as transparency, accountability, credibility and legitimacy in the
running of free and fair elections were embraced and jealously guarded in all
our elections.

“We have enjoyed a reputation of credible elections. We are happy at the way
political parties have created space and environment for the electorate to be
exposed to the diversity of this nation. We hope that all parties will continue
to contest the elections in a robust manner but must abide by the spirit,
principles and provisions of the Electoral Code of Conduct which they have all
signed,” said Dr Bam.

Adv Pansy Tlakula, Chief Electoral Officer of the Commission, thanked
suppliers, civil society organisations, members of the public who participated
in its different programmes, political parties, members of the diplomatic corps
and the media for making the election possible.

Adv Tlakula said the IEC was excited that young people are keen on voting in
the country's fifth elections. “They are aware that voting makes them part of
the decision-making process and consider it their responsibility to help ensure
a lasting democratic society,” she said.

In terms of the Electoral Act, final election results have to be released
within seven days after the election. This is to cater for objections on
results.

Enquiries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386

Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
21 April 2009