We are ready, says Mbeki

President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday congratulated the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on its readiness to hold Wednesday’s general election and urged political parties to do their part to ensure the poll is free and fair.

“It is all systems go, we are ready for tomorrow,” the president told reporters after touring the IEC’s results operations centre in Pretoria.

He expressed relief at reports that the situation around the country was calm on the eve of the poll.

“I think we foresee for tomorrow an election process that really ought to run without any major problems,” the president said.

“Hopefully the political parties will continue to sustain the message they have been communicating, calling on their supporters and members to ensure that the elections are free and fair.”

Mbeki said he was pleased that the process of capturing the special votes of pregnant, infirm and disabled people had gone smoothly on Monday and Tuesday.

He was concerned, however, about incorrect media reports that the election might run into Thursday, in which case another public holiday would be declared.

“The elections will only be held on the 14th,” he said. “The 15th will be a normal working day, not a public holiday, and not a voting day.”

He was worried, Mbeki said, that citizens hearing such inaccurate reports may decide to postpone voting until Thursday, only to find all polling stations closed.

The president also expressed displeasure at a radio report that political campaigning had to end by 8am on Tuesday when the deadline only expired at midnight.

Mbeki was given a guided tour of the IEC’s results centre by chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula. After visiting the data-capturing section, he was taken to the political party offices — popping in first to inspect those reserved for the Inkatha Freedom Party.

As he made his way to the offices of his own party, the African National Congress, Mbeki was assured by IEC chairperson Brigalia Bam that “once you’ve see one, you’ve seen them all. They are all the same size.”

Afterwards, the president said he shared opinions held by the European Union, the United Nations and the Commonwealth that South Africa is ready for the national poll — its third since the demise of apartheid.

He said he has received a letter from Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon saying the organisation is not sending observers to South Africa — not as a snub, but because it is satisfied the poll will be free and fair, transparent and without major problems.

The UN and EU are also not sending observer teams, Mbeki said. In fact, a UN election fact-finding mission in the country recently left satisfied earlier than scheduled, with lessons it hoped to introduce to the electoral systems of the developed world.

Bam gave an assurance that the IEC team running Wednesday’s poll can match any other in the world.

“And I want to assure you [Mbeki] that the citizens of this nation, the 20,6-million who registered, will indeed be at their stations tomorrow.” — Sapa