The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has dismissed claims that South African expats were not adequately informed of the process of applying to vote abroad.
This was in response to reports that hundreds of South Africans living abroad would be unable to cast their vote due to government and IEC miscommunication.
A day before voters living abroad were scheduled to head to the polls, The Times reported that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, and the IEC had failed to notify expats that they were required to complete and submit a VEC10 form in order to vote on 30 April.
According to the newspaper, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Jeanette Ndhlovu said this miscommunication had created a “problem everywhere”, adding that other embassies had noted that many expats had failed to submit the VEC10 forms on time.
These voters would, therefore, be unable to vote.However, chief electoral officer Mosotho Moepya said the IEC had worked closely with the department in promoting overseas voting among eligible voters.
According to the IEC, communications campaigns were undertaken in conjunction with the department to inform voters living abroad of the processes regarding voting. This included the circulation of press releases explaining the process and a series of online advertisements via Facebook, Google and on popular South African sites.
A number was also established for overseas voters to contact the IEC call centre.
Despite, the alleged failure in communication, about 26 406 South Africans living abroad will cast their ballots on 30 April – exactly a week before citizens at home do so.
According to the IEC, all voting stations in 123 overseas cities have reported their readiness for voting in the national elections, having received all materials and training.
The first ballots will be cast by about 406 voters, who successfully registered at the South African High Commission in Auckland, New Zealand, when polling opens on 30 April. The final votes will be cast in Los Angeles on 1 May.
Once completed, the ballots from each voting station will be collected in secure, sealed bags and transported to Pretoria, where they will be counted for inclusion in the national results.
Meanwhile, during the official opening of the national results operations centre west of Pretoria, the IEC committed itself to transparency during the elections on 7 May.
The centre will serve as the meeting point for political parties, media and election observers until the final election results are declared.
IEC official said results updates would be communicated to the media and election observers throughout the election period.
