AU, SADC hail South Africa polls

  1. Posted on Saturday 25 April 2009 - 09:47
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    Joyce J. Wangui, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
    The African Union and the Southern African Development Authority (SADC) have credited the South African polls as free and fair. Leader of the SADC team of election observers Balefi Tsie said that despite hiccups, the elections were conducted in compliance with guidelines adopted by all SADC countries.
    voting
    “It is our considered judgement that the election process was conducted in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner."

    And the leader of the AU observer mission Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim said that the voters exemplified total maturity in the polls. He added that the huge turnout of voters was an indication that South Africans had entered a new era of democratic dispensation.

    “The vibrancy of the electorate had done honour not only to the people of South Africa but to Africa as a whole," he said.

    In a statement, the AU noted that the just ended elections were inclusive of everyone.

    “This includes the special arrangement for the disabled and the aged to exercise their right to vote as well as the participation of those South Africans who had registered to vote but were abroad on the day of the election,” the statement read in part.

    Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, also part of the AU observer mission said that despite a few logistical hiccups like the shortage of ballot papers and boxes, the polls were otherwise smooth.

    No election goes one hundred percent smooth; we have to excuse the minor hitches that may have occurred, said Obasanjo.

    However the AU has advised the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to look into the issue of long queues at some polling stations in the future as this could lead to voter frustration.

    The mission further said the issue of voters who were registered at a particular voting station and were allowed to vote at another on voting day as well as the display of party literature within the perimeters of voting stations should be addressed.

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