AFRICAN UNION

UNION AFRICAINE


UNIO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P. O. Box 3243 Telephone: 011-
551 7700 Fax: 011-551 7844
Website: www. africa-union.org

AFRICAN UNION ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION TO THE
7
th
May 2014 NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS TO
THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

I. INTRODUCTION

1. At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the
Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, deployed an
African Union Election Observer Mission to the 7
th
May 2014, South African
National and Provincial Elections.

2. The Mission is headed by His Excellency John Kufuor, former President of the
Republic of Ghana, assisted by the Deputy Head of Mission HE Ibrahima Fall,
former Assistant Secretary General to the United Nations. The Mission comprised
54 Observers drawn from the Pan-African Parliament, African Ambassadors to the
African Union in Addis Ababa, African Court on Human and Peoples Rights,
Election Management Bodies, and Civil Society Organisations from the following
countries: Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Democratic
Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South
Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Mission is
supported by a team of experts from the African Union Commission (AUC), the
Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable
Democracy in Africa (EISA).

3. The AU Mission observed the elections in accordance with the spirit and letter of
the Durban Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa
(2002), The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007), and
the Guidelines of the African Union Election Observation Missions and Election
Monitoring. In addition to these Continental instruments, the AU Observation
Mission was held in accordance with the Constitutional and legal framework
governing elections in South Africa.

4. The Mission arrived in South Africa on 27
th
April 2014 and will remain in the country
until 12
th
May 2014. This preliminary statement is released following the
announcement of the provisional results by the IEC. However, the final declaration
of the results by the IEC is still pending and will be done once all the results are
tabulated. The AU Mission hereby presents its preliminary findings and
recommendations based on its consultations and observations up to the close of
polling and counting on 7
th
May 2014. A detailed final report of the Mission will be
shared with relevant authorities in South Africa after the elections.

II. OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY OF THE MISSION

5. In line with the mandate contained in the AU instruments, the objective of the AU
Mission is to make an independent, objective and impartial assessment of the 7
th

May 2014 General Elections in South Africa. Pursuant to the above objective, the
Mission leadership consulted with key and relevant stakeholders in South Africa
among them are IEC, Media representatives and Civil Society Organisations
(CSOs). The Mission also attended a briefing session convened by the IEC for
International Observers, where they were appraised on the election preparations,
and the aspects of voting and counting processes. To enhance its observation
methodology, the AU mission conducted a three-Day training for its Observers on
the use of AU checklist and reporting as well as received briefing by experts and
key electoral stakeholders in South Africa. The Mission also co-organised two joint
consultative meetings with the leadership of Southern Africa Development
Community (SADC) Election Observation Mission and the Commonwealth
Mission. During the meetings, held before and after the Election Day, the Heads
of these three Missions had useful exchange on several aspect of the electoral
process including harmonised approach for deployment, observation and the
release of preliminary statements.

6. The AU Mission deployed 26 teams to observe the elections in the nine provinces
of South Africa. These are Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State,
Northern Cape, Kwazulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. Upon
arrival in the Provinces of deployment, the AU Observers held further consultations
with key stakeholders and members of the public to familiarise themselves with the
local political and electoral context and voter perspectives on the elections.

7. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS

A. General Political and Electoral Environment

8. The 7
th
May General Elections in South Africa coincided with the 20th Anniversary
of the advent of democracy in the country in 1994. The elections were also historic
because the voters who were born after 1994 (informally referred to as Born
Frees) were casting their ballots for the first time. Significantly, this was the first
General Elections to be held after the passing away of the countrys first
democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela, who was widely recognised as
the unifier of the nation.

9. The Mission noted that there were 29 political parties contesting national elections
including newly registered political parties. The Mission noted that the parties
conducted themselves in accordance with the electoral law.

10. The Mission observed that on Election Day, millions of South Africans
enthusiastically made their way to the Polling Stations, patiently queued and took
their turns to vote, some late into the night.

11. The Mission noted that the political and electoral environment was generally
peaceful across the country with voters being able to exercise their right to vote.
There was also a high level of tolerance between the contesting political parties
and their supporters. The Mission also noted the professionalism of the security
forces.

B. Preparedness of the Electoral Management Body

12. The Mission observed that the IEC preparation and management of the entire
electoral process were such that it contributed to the overall integrity of the process
and enhanced public confidence. Most of the stakeholders met by the AU Mission
expressed confidence and trust in the ability of the IEC to preside over a credible
and transparent process.

13. The Mission noted that the internal safeguards put in place by the IEC ensured
smooth operation of the entire voting process. It further notes that the measures
taken to improve the credibility of the Voters Roll, voter identification and results
transmission, minimised challenges to ensure efficient operation of the entire
process.

14. The Mission observed that the IEC personnel were adequately trained on all
aspects of the electoral process and demonstrated high levels of professionalism,
competence and understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
C. Opening of the polls
15. The Mission observed that most of the polling stations visited by its Observers
opened within the stipulated time at 7a.m. In all Polling Stations, the IEC personnel
were present and undertook the opening exercise in a commendable manner.
D. Polling Stations and Election Materials
16. The Mission noted that the polling stations were clearly marked and that the layout
of the majority of polling stations sufficiently guaranteed the secrecy of the vote,
as voters were able to vote without interference. Most of the polling stations were
located in public places, and the Commission conveniently placed signposts to
direct voters to these Polling Stations. The Mission noted that in most Polling
Stations, voting was conducted in streams arranged alphabetically. Yet, in a few
Polling Stations some streams had more registered voters thereby contributing to
long queues in those Polling Stations.

17. The election materials were adequate in most of the polling stations visited and
were deployed well in advance. However in some polling stations, few incidents of
inadequate voting material were observed by the African Union Observers.
E. Voting Procedures
18. The IEC personnel demonstrated remarkable knowledge of the voting procedures.
The Mission observed compliance with rules relating to the handling of election
materials, identification of eligible voters, voting procedures and scrutiny and
reconciliation of ballots at the beginning of the counting process. The Mission
observed the elaborate identification process put in place by IEC which ensured
that only eligible voters were allowed to vote during the 2014 elections. It is also
noted that the Commission involved political partys agents in making decisions
regarding voters who did not have proper means of identification. This inclusive
and participatory process of decision making ensured that tension was minimised
in the polling stations during voting. The Mission also noted the special measures
taken by the IEC to facilitate and assist special groups including the elderly, people
with disabilities, nursing and expectant mothers to cast their votes during special
voting days at home and during the Election Day at polling station.

F. Closing, Counting and Transmission of Results
19. The Mission noted that the closing procedures were complied with and most polling
stations closed on time at 9.00 pm. However, where there were long queues,
voting was extended for those already in the queue. The counting process was
preceded by an elaborate process of reconciliation of the ballots in order to
enhance transparency and accountability. This quest for transparency and
accountability, in some cases, delayed the counting process until the early hours
of the morning. The transmission of the results was done electronically and the
IEC issued the first results from the Eastern Cape Province around midnight.
G. Use of Technology in Election
20. The Mission commends the IEC for the use of technology that enhanced the
integrity of the voter register, voter identification, counting, tabulation and
transmission of results; and for measures taken by IEC to ensure that its polling
staff were adequately trained on the use of the technology.
H. Participation of Women on Election Day
21. The Mission wishes to underscore the remarkably high level of participation and
inclusion of women in the electoral process at all levels. Women were engaged as
presiding officers, polling officials, party agents, and election observers. Women
also turned out in large numbers to vote in the elections. The Mission wishes to
state that the success witnessed in the overall conduct of the Elections was in
some great measure to the credit of women.

IV CONCLUSION
22. On the basis of the foregoing, the Missions preliminary conclusion is that the 2014
National and Provincial elections of South Africa were held in a conducive
environment which allowed the electorate to effectively participate in the electoral
process and to exercise their right to vote.

23. The Mission based on its observation has come to the preliminary conclusion that
the National and Provincial Elections of May 7 2014 in the Republic of South Africa
were free, fair, transparent and credible. The elections were also peaceful and
reflects the wishes and aspirations of South Africans.

24. The Mission wishes to congratulate the people of South Africa, IEC, political
parties, civil society, the media and all other stakeholders for the peaceful manner
in which the 2014 National and Provincial elections were conducted.

25. As the electoral process is yet to be concluded, the Mission would like to call on
all stakeholders to continue to uphold peace and harmony across the country and
await the final announcement of results by the IEC.

26. The Mission will release its final and comprehensive report two months after the
elections.