Religious group engages IEC over 'serious concerns' during the voting process - IOL
Pastor Bert Pretorius, President of the South African Community of Faith-Based Fraternals and Federations (SACOFF), at an ANC table on Election Day. SACOFF says it is engaging the IEC over concerns involving voter access, ballot handling and closing procedures.
The South African Community of Faith-Based Fraternals and Federations (SACOFF) was engaging with the Independent Electoral Commission regarding “serious concerns” reported by its team of election observers who were deployed across the country to monitor and support the local government elections process.
The Pretoria-based federation of churches and other religious organisations said by midday on Wednesday, its election observer team had received 479 "detailed incident reports" and information that 64 voting stations had opened late.
However, in its closing report, SACOFF reported that “calm voting” and “efficient processing” at several voting stations it monitored.
“Since the midday report, observer updates have described calm voting conditions, well-managed queues and efficient processing at several voting stations. Some observers visited multiple stations during the afternoon, while others remained on site through closing to observe the transition to counting.
“The reports also highlighted challenges involving voter access, ballot handling, electricity and lighting, and the application of procedures as voting drew to a close.
“At the 21:12 reporting point, observers at several reporting stations had confirmed that voting had closed or that closing procedures were under way. The (SACOFF observer) mission’s focus is now shifting to ballot reconciliation and counting,” the organisation said.
It said it remained in active communication with the IEC on the concerns “that could affect voter access, ballot secrecy, the security of election materials or the orderly conduct of the count”.
“The Nerve Centre (SACOFF’s national observer co-ordination centre) is recording where observers report that matters have been addressed and where confirmation is still outstanding. The Centre is also documenting procedural and logistical challenges for future correction. These include voter directions, staffing and communication, access to the reporting platform, and contingency,” the organisation said in a statement at the close of voting.
The organisation said it had adopted a two-pronged approach to work with the commission to ensure that serious concerns were addressed promptly during the voting process while long-term systemic or procedural improvements will be recommended for future elections.
“SACOFF is adopting a two-pronged approach: Immediate intervention: Identifying and escalating significant matters that could affect voter access, ballot security, electoral procedures or the integrity of voting. Long-term electoral improvement: Systematically recording procedural inconsistencies, logistical shortcomings and administrative challenges that should inform recommendations for future elections,” the organisation said.
SACOFF had deployed thousands of accredited election observers across all nine provinces of South Africa to monitor the local government elections. The federation had also assisted during the voter registration process and other activities leading up to the elections through its network of churches and affiliated organisations.
“This extensive nationwide observation mission reflects SACOFF's commitment to supporting free, fair, peaceful, transparent and credible elections,” the organisation said.
SACOFF said it would continue to assess incident reports it received, monitor developments and engage the IEC. It acknowledged that “not every procedural difference or logistical difficulty constitutes an electoral irregularity” and said “Equally, serious concerns must receive appropriate attention and must not be overlooked. SACOFF will continue to assess reported incidents on their merits and seek verification where necessary.”
Members of the observer mission of the South African Community of Faith-Based Fraternals and Federations (SACOFF), at a voting station. SACOFF says it is engaging the IEC over concerns involving voter access, ballot handling and closing procedures.
Members of the South African Community of Faith-Based Fraternals and Federations' elections observer team at the Limpopo Results Operations Centre. SACOFF says it is engaging the IEC over concerns involving voter access, ballot handling and closing procedures.
