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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Mr Mosa Chabane, visited Thabazimbi Local Municipality yesterday to assess the state of readiness of the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC’s) readiness to hold the by-elections in the municipality following the municipality’s dissolution.
 
Mr Chabane said the IEC has made assurance that all systems are ready for the coming by-elections. Furthermore, he said the IEC has demonstrated over time its capacity to facilitate democratic elections.  He added: “Elections represent the cornerstone of a democratic country and the plans the IEC has put in place give us the reassurance that all systems are ready for the 4 December by-elections.”
 
Although the systems are satisfactory, the Chairperson highlighted concerns over the lack of access to one voting station at a prominent mining house. He highlighted that the inability of political parties to access the population within the mining house’s property has a potential of undermining a truly democratic process. “We call on mining houses to allow all 21 registered political parties in the voting district located in the area to campaign and mobilise voters” emphasised Mr Chabane.
 
“Attempts must be made to ensure free and unfettered access by political parties to the population within that voting district to ensure fairness of the entire process. The IEC together with political parties must engage management of the mining house to remove any impediments,” Mr Chabane said.
 
Despite this, the Chairperson urged all political parties contesting the by-elections to adhere to the code of conduct.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Home Affairs, Mosa Chabane