Announcing an Election Date: What's at Stake

UNCLAS PRETORIA 000229 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM SF SUBJECT: Announcing an Election Date: What's at Stake ¶1. Summary: Following a meeting between President Kgalema Motlanthe and Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chief Electoral Officer Brigalia Bam on Wednesday, February 4, the Presidency announced that President Motlanthe would not/not announce the date of upcoming national and provincial in his State of the Nation address, scheduled for February 6, but would instead delay the announcement. This non- announcement has sparked speculation over the reasons for the delay. End summary. -------------- -------------- Registration continues until date is "proclaimed" -------------- -------------- ¶2. According to the Electoral Act, the voters' roll is locked on the day the election is proclaimed. However, IEC spokesperson Lydia Young pointed out that registration comes to a halt once the president has proclaimed that date in the Government Gazette. If Motlanthe were to announce the election date during the State of the Nation, voters technically could still register until the President proclaims the date. -------------- -------------- Last Chance Voter Registration Campaign February 7-8 -------------- -------------- ¶3. The IEC has undertaken election registration drives to publicize the importance of participating in elections. These campaigns have cost the IEC resources, both financially and logistically. An announcement by President Motlanthe might create confusion for potential voters wishing to register, who might believe it would be too late for them to participate in the upcoming elections. It might lead to charges against the government for attempting to disenfranchise voters by not allowing them to register to vote. -------------- -------------- Another Test for Motlanthe - Doing the ANC's Bidding -------------- -------------- ¶4. Motlanthe's tenure as President, has at times been criticized by the African National Congress (ANC),as he has been taken to task by the party for not acting fast enough to sign into law contentious bills disbanding the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) also known as the Scorpions, and giving members of parliament the power to remove the board of the public broadcasters. Some analysts believe that Motlanthe may still defy the ANC and announce the election date. Lalime