Pretoria - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is finalising the recruitment of approximately 220 000 staff, who will work at voting stations across the country on Election Day.
Addressing The New Age business briefing in Fourways on Thursday, on the IEC’s state of readiness for the imminent general election, chairperson Advocate Pansy Tlakula said 50 000 registration workers have been recruited, trained and are ready for the final registration weekend of 8 and 9 February.
Tlakula said they were preparing meticulously for the elections. South Africa’s voting stations have increased from about 9 000 to 10 000 in 1994, to 22 363 for the upcoming elections.
Tlakula said this facilitated easier access to voting stations and improved the IEC’s efficiency by reducing the time it takes for voters to cast their ballots.
With regard to the registration process of South Africans living abroad, Tlakula said: “Registration of South Africans, who are out of the country, is currently taking place at our missions in 180 countries.”
From the 5 to 7 February, the IEC will visit correctional facilities across the country to give inmates the opportunity to register for the 2014 general elections.
Tlakula said the IEC has also focused on further improving the flow of information to political parties and the public at large.
“Our website has been made mobile friendly and it is easy for the public to register... Voters can use this facility by sending their ID numbers to 32810 or check their registration details on our website, www.elections.org.
“Over 500 000 people used the site during the first registration of the 2014 general elections,” she said.
The IEC has already started engaging with various stakeholders. Last week, the commission - led by Tlakula - met the farming community in Benoni, Gauteng.
Tlakula said engagement with relevant stakeholders such as the media, youth formations, trade unions, faith based formations and the business community as well as organisations representing people with disabilities will continue.
She also announced that their civic education programme, which has been ongoing, will soon be replaced by voter and balloting education as soon as they know the participants in the upcoming elections.
“As in the past, we will ensure the transparency of our results collation process. In this regard, we are in the process of identifying firms that will audit the results system and the correct capturing of results on Election Day.
“… We will capture the results electronically into the result system and scan the result slip for each voting station. These will be accessible to both the media and political parties,” Tlakula said.
The election date hasn’t been announced by President Jacob Zuma, but voters have until 5pm on the day the President proclaims the election date to register.
Proclamation can happen any time after February 9, 2014. - SAnews.gov.za
