Observing the Elections: A local observer’s point of view

Members of the Electoral Code of Conduct Commission (ECCOC), which is chaired by the Anglican Arch Bishop of Cape Town observed the elections on May 7 to ensure procedures were being followed and elections proceeded smoothly.

Members were divided into teams to observe polling stations in the Drakenstein area, including Paarl, Wellington and the Drakenstein Correctional Facility.

According to ECCOC member and observer, Doctor Lionell Louw, observers are not in a position to enforce but are there to observe and raise any issues of concern with the IEC.

“We observe the process and we bring to the attention to presiding officers any concerns that we have. So in that sense, we are not a body as observers to enforce anything.”

The role of ECCOC members is to also provide ‘moral strength’ to the election process in assisting a peaceful resolve to concerns or complaints the public may have. Observers of the Commission successfully addressed these concerns.

“What the code of conduct commission did (ECCOC) prior to the election is we received a few complaints and we brought parties together because our strength as an observer commission is the moral strength that we could bring to the process and look at how there could be a resolution of complaints or concerns that parties had in an amicable way. We certainly managed a few of those things.”

A report will be submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) based the Commission’s observations as part of the IEC’s formal review process.

“We will within the next two or three weeks submit a report to the IEC on the observations we have made from the teams that have gone out to look at what was happening at the different polling stations so that they would have that to be part of their own review.”

Dr. Louw is hopeful that the observations made will go a long way in assisting the local government elections in the next two years.

“Local government elections are just two years away so we have to look at the lessons we have learned from this election and begin to put our minds together around where we go two years from now.”

Ansha Krishnan, International Intern