Asked by journalists what election management lessons the Independent Electoral Commission has learnt over this period, chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo responded: “Don’t try to organise an election of this size in 42 days.”
Though said in jest, the statement sums up what has arguably been the most testing year in the recent history of this institution.
Unclear about what effect Covid-19 would have on its operations, the IEC appointed retired justice Dikgang Moseneke earlier this year to evaluate whether a free and fair local government elections could be held in October as scheduled.
Moseneke concluded that it was not reasonably possible or likely that the elections would be free and fair, if held in October.
The IEC would later adopt his report and apply to the Constitutional Court for the elections to be postponed, a request ultimately turned down by the court.
Still, in many respects, by asking to postpone the polls in the first place, the institution kicked the hornet's nest.
It faced an unprecedented onslaught from some political players, who waged a misinformation campaign which at times appeared to discredit the legitimacy of the institution.
As this voting week began, to some the image of the IEC had been battered, albeit unfairly, if its conduct in the run-up to the elections is factually and objectively assessed.
On voting day the legitimate failure of its systems, both technological and human, in parts of the country was used by some to amplify the baseless narrative that the organisation was fast losing credibility.
Indeed, these elections demonstrated that the IEC must jack up its systems and ensure better efficiency training of its staff, some of whom have been found wanting in some voting districts.But without proof that the organisation has acted in a biased manner and with malicious intent to undermine the rights of voters, any suggestion that it has lost credibility is not only unfair, but must be rejected.
This is even more important as we go into the national election in 2024 where power shifts have become a possibility. The IEC must work harder to ensure it strengthens its capacity as an efficient and independent guardian of our electoral system.
And we, the people, must hold it accountable and, where necessary, defend its independence from malicious and baseless political attacks.
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