Political parties sign Elections Code of Conduct

Representatives of just over a half of the political parties registered with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to take part in the municipal elections in the province on 3 August, gathered at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium on Monday to sign the Elections Code of Conduct.
Of the 56 parties that registered, 29 were represented and signed with the exception of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) due to a logistical problem with an incorrect logo being used to identify the party. The PAC however confirmed acceptance of the Code of Conduct and pledged to abide with the conditions thereof.

The event was also attended by Faith Muthambi, Minister of Communications, Willem Wepener and Thami Makhanya, High Court Judges and members of the Electoral Court, Glen Mashinini, Chairperson of the IEC and Nkaro Mateta, Provincial Electoral Officer.
Mateta delivered a word of welcome and informed guests of the state of readiness for the elections where after Wepener alluded to the importance and role of the Electoral Court during elections.
In his input, Mashinini, amplified the role that the officials will play in the elections and said that they will be responsible for the integrity of the outcome of the elections. “We have also detected an increase in the interest of the population to participate in the elections this time around,” Mashinini said.
Addressing the meeting, Muthambi said that the Electoral Code of Conduct is enacted as part of the Electoral Act of 1998 in order to create electoral conditions consistent with the values of the Constitution. “Parties and candidates are to abide by the Code of Conduct and upon submission of their lists and nominations and by signing the Code of Conduct, it becomes a public commitment that they will uphold it. This becomes a binding pledge to make sure that participation in the political process must be based on mutual respect, tolerance and the recognition of the rights of participating political parties.
“As we go into the elections, we are expected to be responsible officials of our respective political parties. We need to ask ourselves whether we are pillars or caterpillars. Pillars are there to support the structure and caterpillars are there to shake the pillars. My wish is that we become pillars to support our hard earned democracy which give citizens the right to exercise the ballot as their voice in shaping the path to a prosperous democratic future. It is our responsibility as political parties to advocate messages of peace, tolerance and patriotism to our various constituencies,” Muthambi concluded.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com

Featured photo: Nkaro Mateta, Provincial Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and Glen Mashinini, Chairperson of the IEC at the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct.