The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has expressed confidence in its ability to deliver credible local government elections. With over 29 million potential voters and 136,790 candidates representing 546 political parties, the IEC has taken measures to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo stated that the commission has done everything within its powers to prepare for the elections, including training voting officials and preparing ballot papers.
The IEC has identified attempts to malign the integrity of the elections, particularly through social media platforms. Mamabolo reported that the commission's information integrity unit has noticed a worrying trend of individuals casting doubts on the elections, including making untested claims of electoral fraud. The IEC has urged political parties to avoid making inflammatory statements that misrepresent the voting process.
The IEC has taken steps to address misinformation and disinformation, including establishing a digital disinformation reporting and tracking platform, Real411. The platform has registered 34 complaints comprising misinformation, disinformation, incitements to violence, hate speech, and harassment. The IEC has alerted citizens to identified social posts spreading false information and provided factual information on its social platform accounts.
Mamabolo emphasized that the commission is ready to welcome registered voters to voting stations on election day. He encouraged citizens to come prepared with their ID, cast their vote, and leave the voting station quickly. The IEC aims to ensure a smooth voting process, allowing citizens to continue with their daily activities.
The IEC has dealt with some officials who failed to adhere to standards, and Mamabolo urged political parties to report any aberrations by election officials through established mechanisms. The commission has also escalated misinformation and disinformation posts to social media platforms for takedown.
According to Mamabolo, most complaints on Real411 were made on X (Twitter) at 58.8%, followed by TikTok at 23.5%, and Facebook and WhatsApp each accounting for 8.8%. The IEC has acted swiftly against election officials who fell short of carrying out their duties as required.
Mamabolo concluded by emphasizing that elections should be a joyful occasion for South Africans to celebrate their democracy. He encouraged citizens to respect the voting process and party agents to observe the proceedings without interfering with the presiding officer. The IEC is prepared to ensure a credible and peaceful election.
Key points
- The IEC has expressed confidence in its ability to deliver credible local government elections.
- The commission has identified attempts to malign the integrity of the elections, particularly through social media platforms.
- The IEC has taken steps to address misinformation and disinformation, including establishing a digital disinformation reporting and tracking platform, Real411.
