SADC: Elections free and fair

South Africa’s fourth democratic elections took place in a peaceful atmosphere, the Southern African Development Corporation (SADC) electoral observer mission said on Friday.

“The elections were fair, transparent and credible,” announced mission head Clement Dlamini in Pretoria.

In the run-up to the elections, political parties were allowed to hold rallies without interference, which indicated tolerance among parties.

“Political parties followed relevant legislation to address election-related issues affecting them with the electoral commission,” he said.

Dlamini said they had observed that counting of ballot papers started immediately after closing of polling station.

“The vote counting process was conducted meticulously and lawful ... the results were recorded in results slips.”

He said the counting was done in the presence of party agents who then signed the results slips.

The mission, however, raised concerns about the use of card box ballot boxes and the presence of political stands near polling stations.

Dlamini said the mission recommended that South Africa in future use translucent ballot boxes and amend the electoral law to prohibit political activities within the vicinity of the polling stations.

While concerns such as teachers acting as electoral officers were valid, it did not discredit the election, he added.

Dlamini explained that teachers were perceived not to be impartial by virtue of being members of the South African Democratic Teacher’s
Union (Sadtu), which had endorsed the ANC.

He urged political parties and candidates to respect the will of the people.

“Any grievances that they might have should be pursued in line with the relevant laws of the country,” he said.—Sapa