Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Marianne Merten
Published on 2024-02-27 20:33:29
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is facing funding challenges for the upcoming elections, with Programme 2 (delivering free and fair elections) not currently being fully funded. The IEC is planning to cover the shortfall for the 29 May poll using retained surpluses from the 2023 non-election year, pending approval from the National Treasury. Currently, only R1.29 billion out of the allocated R2.4 billion for the 2024/25 financial year has been set aside for the general election.
Masego Sheburi, the IEC deputy CEO of electoral operations, emphasized the importance of securing approval from the National Treasury to retain savings for the 2024 elections. However, the timing of the approval process poses a challenge, as the National Treasury is expected to consider requests to retain surpluses only from August onwards.
Furthermore, the 2026 local government elections are already on the IEC’s radar, but budget cuts across financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27 have resulted in these elections not being fully funded. The IEC is hopeful that additional funding may be allocated before 2026 to meet its requirements for conducting these elections effectively.
The upcoming elections have been described as a watershed moment, with the possibility of the governing ANC losing control and the debut of independents in the electoral process. The introduction of a third ballot paper for independents has added financial pressure on the IEC, requiring additional resources for printing, distribution, and staffing at voting stations.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana allocated funds to support the SA Police Service, SA National Defence Force, and political party funding in preparation for the upcoming elections. The IEC is also facing challenges related to the late establishment of a nine-member election reform consultation panel, which is behind schedule in its mandate to recommend potential reforms to the electoral system post-2024 polls.
The IEC is working against hard deadlines to meet the requirements for the upcoming elections, including the inclusion of independents in the electoral process. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) is finalizing broadcast regulations to ensure equitable treatment for all participants in the election campaign.
Despite the challenges, the IEC and relevant authorities are working towards ensuring a smooth electoral process leading up to the elections on 29 May. It is crucial for Parliament to pass the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill in a timely manner to avoid any disruptions to the electoral process.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
