Chairperson Glen Mashinini: Launch of National Results Operations Centre

Speaking notes for Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mr Glen Mashinini launch of the National Results Operations Centre

Thank you Programme Director Dr Masuku,
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers present,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
The Honourable leaders of political parties present here today,
Former Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission Justice Johann Kriegler and Dr Brigalia Bam,
Chairpersons and CEOs of fellow Chapter 9 institutions,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Members of international and domestic observer groups,
The Chairperson and members of the Municipal Demarcation Board,
Vice Chair and Fellow Commissioners of the Electoral Commission,
The staff and leadership of the Electoral Commission,
Representative of civil society groups and Non-Governmental Organisations,
Members of the media,
Fellow South Africans,
Honoured guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.

Introduction

Every election is a watershed moment in a country’s history. Each is a turning point in the political, economic and social trajectory of a country. Some elections signal slow and subtle change; others lead to more seismic and dramatic shifts.

Without a doubt, the first democratic elections in April 1994 were of the latter kind being a defining moment in the history of our country which set South Africa on its new path to democracy and human rights.

Each of the four national and provincial elections and four general municipal elections held since 1994 has been an important stepping stone in our country’s journey from the isolation and oppression of apartheid to the human rights, dignity and respect of democracy.

Next week’s Municipal Elections are gearing up to be of the more ground-shaking variety that our country last experienced 22 years ago.

The signs are there to see. There is a building sense of excitement accompanied by a measure of anxiety and trepidation. As in 1994, these are the natural signs of a country evolving and growing. Evolution is not limited to the biological sphere. It features throughout our world including in politics and economics.

Our democracy too is evolving and growing and we as stakeholders in electoral democracy must evolve and growth with it. I was privileged to have been a part of the establishment of the Electoral Commission in 1997 when we built an institution and laid the legislative and regulatory framework for free and fair elections.

Free and fair elections are built on a pyramid of integrity.

The bedrock of this pyramid is the Constitution which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary and which sets our nation as one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values:

  • human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms;
  • non-racialism and non-sexism
  • Supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law;
  • Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters’ roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.

The Constitution also establishes the Electoral Commission and gives it the mandate to:

  • Manage elections at national, provincial and municipal legislative bodies in accordance with national legislation;
  • Ensure that those elections are free and fair; and
  • Declare the results of those elections within a period that must be prescribed by national legislation and that is as short as reasonably possible

On this bedrock are the four corners of the pyramid of integrity:

  • The first corner is the legislative and regulatory framework for elections at the various levels;
  • The second corner are the structures, processes and systems which give effect to this legislation;
  • The third corner are the logistic preparations and readiness for elections;
  • And the final corner is an environment which is conducive to free and fair elections

If anyone of these cornerstones fails, our pyramid falls – or is at the very least seriously compromised.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

The legislative and regulatory provisions have been in place for many years now and our Chief Electoral Officer has spoken about the readiness of both the staff and the logistics of the Electoral Commission to deliver a free and fair election.

I would like briefly to talk about the third and fourth corners of our pyramid – the systems and processes; and the environment in which these elections are being conducted.

Systems and processes supporting integrity

One key to ensuring free and fair elections is making sure each and every aspect of the voting, counting and results process is transparent.

The Chief Electoral Officer has spoken briefly about the political party liaison committee system which forms a vital part of this process.

But of even more crucial importance is the understanding by every party, candidate, voter, observer, commentator that each aspect of the entire voting and results process is subject to checks and balances – and oversight – which guarantee the integrity of the process.

All political parties are allowed two agents present at every voting station to ensure that each aspect of this process is conducted correctly, fairly and in terms of the law. These agents – along with national and international observers – oversee each step of the voting and the counting process.

The party agents then sign the results slip – and are encouraged to take a photograph of the results slip on their cellphone. This slip is scanned and the results are captured.

Here at the results centre anyone can call up a scan of the results slip and compare it to the photograph sent by their party agent – and to the actual results captures on the system.

On top of this, independent auditors oversee the results capture process.

Ladies and gentlemen

It is not possible for any individual – not the Chairperson not the CEO and not the Presiding Officer – to change the results without it being apparent to all stakeholders.

It is this system – with all its checks and balances – which provides certainty, credibility and integrity to the results.

Climate conducive to free and fair elections

Ladies and gentlemen, the final corner of our integrity pyramid is the climate and environment in which elections are held. This is not something we as the Electoral Commission can achieve alone or in isolation.

You can have the most well managed elections but if the conditions prevailing in the run-up to that election are not conducive to open debate, to free campaigning and freedom of choice then the outcome cannot be free and fair.

The campaigning for next week’s elections has been amongst the most robust, vigorous and colourful in our nation’s short democratic history.

That is part of the evolution and growth of our democracy.

But we have also seen isolated incidents of violence, intimidation and attempts to make some areas no-go zones for both election officials and politicians.

Such incidents threaten the foundation of our democracy and seek to take us back to a time and place before our Constitution gave rise to democracy and our human rights.

We will not and cannot allow aggrieved individuals and groups to undermine what we as a country fought for and what so many in our past gave their lives for.

We are working closely with the security structures in our country to ensure voting proceeds safely and securely in all areas.

We also appeal to all community leaders, political leaders, candidates, voters, civil society and religious groups and all citizens to work together to ensure we produce yet another election which serves as an inspiration to the world.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen

As someone who grew up in a time when the majority of South Africans were not granted a choice and were not able to have a say in its future, I continue to get excited about the prospect of voting.

The power of democracy is unfortunately not something granted all peoples in all nations.

We are privileged to live in a country with a working, vibrant, beautiful democracy.

Each of us 

Democracy is about choice – and voters have more choice in this election than they have ever had in any other election in our history.

At the end of this week the parties will have had their say.

The candidates have had their say.

The media and commentators will have had their say.

Now is the time for the 26.3 million voters to have their say in this election – and in the future they choose for their communities, towns, cities and metros.

The future is in your hands.

I thank you!

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