Observer Forms

During the first fully democratic elections in 1994 South Africa learned how valuable observers – both foreign and domestic – could be to the electoral process.

First of all, the legitimacy of the electoral process is enhanced by the presence of neutral observers. Outsiders who have been present and actually seen what has happened during voting, counting and the determination of results can tell the world that the process was transparently free and fair, and can put any problems in their proper context. The opinion of an impartial witness carries a great deal of weight.

Secondly, respected outsiders can contribute greatly to the propriety of the process. Their presence probably has a stabilising effect on would-be troublemakers and ensures that everyone concerned is on their best behaviour.

Thirdly, international observers from organisations such as the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the Commonwealth often have vast experience of elections in various parts of the world and are able to give IEC staff invaluable advice and support.

It has become practice for international organisations to observe elections in emerging democracies and to produce reports. The IEC Library has shelves full of such reports, thousands of international and domestic observers flocked to be present at the founding elections of our democracy in 1994 and the new Electoral Act, 73 of 1998, makes specific provision for the accreditation of observers of South African elections.

When it came to our second national and provincial elections in June 1999, both domestic and international observers were invited to observe the conduct of the elections. The South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the South African Council of Churches acted as co-ordinators of the large number of domestic observer missions under the designation of the South African Civil Society Observers’ Coalition (SACSOC). The United Nations Electoral Assistance Division was asked to assist in the co-ordination and deployment of international observers. In addition, certain South African missions abroad hosted observer groups for international voting.

The poll was observed by some 11 000 observers, 369 of whom were from abroad. International observer groups were deployed to some 700 voting stations in all nine provinces while domestic observers covered almost all voting stations. The building of domestic observer capacity was emphasised.

Any organisation wishing to observe the elections had to apply for accreditation. If it met the required criteria, an accreditation certificate was issued. In all, 72 organisations, among which were numbered resident diplomatic missions, were accredited.

Various observer delegations arrived in the country in the run-up to the elections. The delegations were briefed by the IEC on election-related subjects and by the UN on deployment, roles and method of reporting.

Professor Nicephore Soglo, former President of Benin, led the OAU delegation. Sir David Steel, Speaker of the Scottish Parliament, led the Commonwealth Observer Group. The SADC delegation was led by His Excellency Milton Phiri, the Zambian High Commissioner to Botswana, and the European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA) delegation was led by its President, Dr. Scholten.

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