WeeklySA_AdminSA POLLS PEACEFUL – AFRICAN UNION
DEPLOYED: This was pivotal for the country’s democratic future and had implications for political stability within South Africa and the sub-region, according to the head of AU observers…
By OWN Correspondent
Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, has declared that South Africa’s 2024 National and Provincial Elections were held under peaceful conditions.
The observer mission was deployed to South Africa from May 21 at the invitation of the South African Government and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
This as South Africans went to the polls on May 29. “Overall, the mission notes that the 2024 South African National and Provincial Elections were pivotal for the country’s democratic future and had implications for political stability within South Africa and the sub-region.
“South Africans freely exercised their constitutional right to vote and voted peacefully. The participation of youth and women offers hope for the future of democracy in Africa, and indicates an increased trust in the electoral process.
“While the electoral process is still ongoing, we implore all aggrieved parties to use the existing election dispute resolution mechanisms to address their grievances, if any,” Kenyatta said in a preliminary statement.
AUEOM staff have been deployed to several parts of the country to observe aspects of the elections.
“Since arriving in South Africa, the AUEOM has engaged with key stakeholders, including the IEC, the media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), faith-based organisations, representatives of the international community, citizens’ observer groups and Heads of other Election Observer Missions, the African Diplomatic Corps and the international community, and academia.
“The Mission deployed 21 teams of 65 observers across nine provinces to observe the special voting on 28 May and polling on 29 May 2024, focusing on various aspects of the electoral process. A final report with comprehensive findings and recommendations will be issued two months after the elections,” Kenyatta stated.
He observed that the National and Provincial Elections (NPE2024) was held with “a renewed enthusiasm among South Africans to strengthen their democratic gains”.
“This election was notably competitive due to the emergence of several new political parties. Despite the peaceful and credible nature of the previous six elections, the 2024 elections were marked by a tense political environment, intensified by several litigations.
“The pre-election period saw heightened tensions and concerns over the potential misuse of social media for spreading fake news, disinformation, and misinformation, which could incite violence.
“Nevertheless, the elections proceeded without major incidents, maintaining a pattern of peaceful conduct.
Despite the challenges and tensions, the 2024 elections were conducted peacefully, demonstrating the resilience of South Africa’s democratic processes,” Kenyatta said. – SAnews.gov.za
SA CAUTIONED AGAINST ‘LAVISH’ PRIVATE POLL FUNDING
SPECTRE: Rising levels of private funding posed a grave danger to democracy and ethical leadership in South Africa, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference sounds the alarm…
By Jude Atemanke
The general elections in South Africa “will test the maturity” of the country’s democracy, the Director of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has said.
On Wednesday, May 29, South Africans voted in the most competitive election since the end of apartheid, amid high turnout and with opinion polls suggesting the African National Congress (ANC) may lose its parliamentary majority after 30 years in government.
In a statement shared with ACI Africa today, Father Stan Muyebe said, “Every time South Africa hosts elections, we should thank God that South Africa has one of the best democracies in Africa, but it is a democracy that needs to be jealously protected by all.”
“As the counting of the votes continues, we wait for the outcome of the elections. We also hope that all parties accept the outcomes. It is true that the 2024 elections will test the maturity of South Africa’s democracy,” Muyebe said in the statement dated yesterday.
He outlined reasons for the test of South Africa’s democracy, saying, “First, judging from the latest developments, this is the first time since 1994 that the electoral dominance and political hegemony of the ruling party has been challenged. These are new realities, unchartered territories for the country.”
He also projected that South Africa’s democracy may now have a coalition at the level of national and provincial government, adding, “There are a lot of uncertainties as to the extent to which such coalitions will work for the common good, and not solely the interests of the political parties.”
Muyebe said there should be a concern about the amount of money that is being spent on elections, adding that private donors could also be controlling political parties and election outcomes in South Africa.”
“Over R160 million was donated to political parties in 2024 elections. Rising levels of private funding pose a grave danger to democracy and ethical leadership in South Africa,” he said.
According to the priest, stagnant economic growth, growing youth unemployment, economic inequalities and the racial divisions that he said continue to manifest in South Africa, will test the country’s maturity of democracy and ethical leadership in the next four years.
“To ensure moral renewal in politics in South Africa, what South Africa needs is not only a mature democracy but also ethical leaders both in the government and business sectors. This is what is severely lacking at the moment and we need a strong moral regeneration movement to achieve this,” the JPC Coordinator said.
Weighing in on the May 29 polls, Muyebe said, “When measured against the ten international minimum standards of free and fair elections, we can say the 2024 elections can be considered to be free and fair.”
“In the 2024 elections, we saw the two institutions that are important for fair elections, the judiciary and the electoral commission, being heavily tested. Although there were some concerns raised against their credibility, the political pressure has not severely eroded their independence and effectiveness,” he said.
He continued, “In our assessment of the reports from the election observers, although we did not have widespread irregularities in the 24000 voting stations, there were a lot of inefficiencies that impeded the ease of voting and in some cases the right to cast a vote.”
Muyebe thanked the security cluster for “ensuring that we did not have a huge crisis of electoral violence.”
“There were few incidents of electoral violence during the campaign period and on election day, as well as sporadic incidents of voter intimidation. However, different from the 2019 election, we did not have political assassinations,” he added.
ROADMAP TO NEW ERA
1.1 National and Provincial Elections: 29 May 2024
1.2. Results Announcement: 3 June 2024
1.3. Planned publication of lists in the Government Gazette: 5 June 2024
1.4. Transmission of lists to Secretary to Parliament and Secretaries of Legislatures: 5 June 2024
1.5. Hand-over of lists to the Chief Justice for swearing-in: 6 June 2024
1.6. Orientation of Members (National Assembly), CTICC Auditorium 2: 16 June 2024
1.7. First Sitting of the National Assembly: 17 June 2024
1.8. Orientation of Members (National Council of Provinces), NCOP Chamber: 17 June 2024
1.9. First Sitting of the National Council of Provinces: 18 June 2024
1.10. Inauguration of the President of RSA: 22 June (to be confirmed),
1.11. Induction of Members: 2 – 5 July 2024
