2019 NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS REPORT sê YOUR X IS YOUR SAY 2019 National and Provincial Elections Report a 2019 NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS REPORT ii 2019 National and Provincial Elections Report CONTENTS FOREWORD BY THE CHAIRPERSON 1 ABOUT THE COMMISSION 3 OVERVIEW BY THE CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER 5 1. PRE-ELECTION PHASE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 11 Legislative framework 11 Delimitation of voting district boundaries 12 Voter Participation Survey 15 Infrastructure: voting station planning 17 Civic and democracy education 20 Communication campaign: Xsê, your X is your say! 25 Digital disinformation initiative 35 Recruitment of electoral staff 36 Elections training 40 Information and communication technology 41 Voter registration and the voters’ roll 47 Registration of political parties 54 Political parties and candidates 56 Litigation 57 2. ELECTION PHASE 60 Ballot papers, ballot boxes and other election materials 60 Special voting 65 Election day 67 Turnout and participation 67 Counting and results 70 Election observation 71 Objections and final results 72 Electoral justice 85 Electoral Code of Conduct and the Directorate for Electoral Offences 86 Financing the 2019 NPE 86 3. POST-ELECTION PHASE 91 Research: Election Satisfaction Survey 2019 91 ANNEXURES List of abbreviations and acronyms 97 Sample ballot papers 98 Election timetable 101 Seat calculation 105 Provincial view 107 2019 National and Provincial Elections Report iii Foreword by the Chairperson The 2019 National and Provincial Elections (NPE) were yet another uncompromising test of the entire gambit of our electoral democracy: from the legislative and regulatory framework to the people who run and participate in elections; the processes and systems that facilitate them; and the logistics, planning and preparations that go into laying a foundation for free and fair elections. Once again, these held up extremely well and the Commission was able to declare the elections free and fair, and to announce the results within three days. This is in line with its constitutional mandate and is an important factor in ensuring a peaceful and efficient transition between governments. Despite a very robust and vigorous campaigning by a record number of political parties, the Commission is particularly pleased to note that the 2019 NPE were among the most peaceful and violence-free in our country’s democratic history. Few, if any, reports were received of intimidation, “no-go zones” or violent intolerance. This is in stark contrast to the early years of our democracy and is testament to the Chairperson: Glen Mashinini maturing of our political and electoral systems. The Electoral Commission is proud to have, once again, This is not to say that the 2019 NPE did not present new delivered free, fair and credible elections in May 2019, challenges and threats. Among these was the spectre resulting in the peaceful, smooth and legitimate transition of alleged double voting, which emerged on Election from the fifth to the sixth National Assembly and nine Day and cast a dark – but thankfully fairly brief – shadow provincial legislatures. over the elections.The Commission would like to express its gratitude to those who helped to deal swiftly and Coinciding – as the elections did – with the 25th anniversary decisively with this issue, and who helped demonstrate year of South Africa’s first historic democratic and inclusive the ultimate integrity of the process and restore trust in it. elections, the Electoral Commission was proud to not only meet its constitutional and legislative mandates for the Among these are the leadership and members of the 10th consecutive general election, but also to help propel South African Police Service (SAPS), who moved swiftly to South Africa further forward on its ongoing journey to investigate and arrest those who had attempted electoral achieve the founding provisions of the Constitution: fraud. We are also deeply grateful to the Statistician- General, Mr Risenga Maluleke, and his team. Without • Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the hesitation, they conducted a statistical analysis of voting advancement of human rights and freedom patterns to help dispel any concerns over widespread • Non-racialism and non-sexism multiple voting. • Supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law • Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters’ The Commission is also grateful to the many analysts, roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of commentators and experts – including former democratic government to ensure accountability, Commissioners – who defended the integrity of the responsiveness and openness. electoral process. 1 2019 National and Provincial Elections Report That being said, the Commission is under no illusion that it chairpersonship of the Honourable Mr Lemias Mashile, can approach another general election without a number for their support, guidance and oversight of key enhancements to the electoral process to further • The political parties, their leaders, candidates and cement the credibility and integrity of the elections. Among supporters for their participation, cooperation and these must be an embrace of technological innovation enthusiasm for our multiparty electoral democracy to help facilitate and manage voter registration and • The various civil society, business and labour participation. organisations, traditional leaders, religious and faith- based organisations and other groups who participated Other lessons were also learned. Social media is a powerful in a myriad ways to make the elections a success tool for all stakeholders, but one which also has the potential • The European Centre for Electoral Support, with funding to undermine free and fair elections through disinformation. from the European Union (EU), for its partnership on The Commission is proud of the lead taken in conjunction a project to train over 1 000 conflict management with a number of civil society partners to initiate a project to coordinators help identify and deal with instances of disinformation. We • The various international organisations, observer expect to build on this foundation going forward. missions and the international community, as represented by the diplomatic corps, who continue The declining participation of voters in national and to show a keen interest in the fortunes of electoral provincial elections in South Africa – especially young democracy here and elsewhere on our continent voters – is another area of concern for all stakeholders. • The various service providers, contractors, business The fact that this is another sign of a maturing democracy partners and other suppliers to the Electoral and is in line with international trends is cold comfort. We Commission for their vital support and assistance in must – together as partners in electoral democracy – find almost all aspects of the process. A special word of ways to reverse this trend and bring young people into the thanks goes to our key strategic partners, Telkom, democratic framework we fought so hard to achieve. Eskom and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), for their ongoing support and sponsorship of Successful elections are a collective effort, and on behalf of the National Results Operations Centre (ROC). the Commission, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude and • The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) for appreciation to the many stakeholders and partners who its work in helping us to gauge perceptions about the made these elections possible. These include the following: Electoral Commission and electoral democracy in a bid to seek continuous improvement • The erstwhile Minister of Home Affairs, the Honourable • The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Dr Siyabonga Cwele, and the leadership and staff of (CSIR) for its support in helping to identify the the Department of Home Affairs, who provide ongoing requirements of a voting registration and election support, cooperation and assistance in a variety of management device, and for its research and insights aspects of the electoral process into the indelible ink marker pens that will help to ensure • The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation that these work more effectively in future at the time, the Honourable Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, and the • To my fellow Commissioners, the Chief Electoral leadership and staff of the Department of International Officer, Sy Mamabolo, as well as the management and Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), especially the staff of the Electoral Commission (including the more members of the diplomatic corps who conducted than 200 000 volunteers who actually run the elections), special voting for citizens living abroad thank you for continuing a 25-year legacy of integrity, • The Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, the professionalism and electoral excellence. leadership of SAPS, the security cluster (including the the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure The final word of thanks must go to the South African voters (NATJOINTS) and the Provincial Joint Operational and who continue to believe in our democracy, our country and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS)) and the tens of our Constitution, and who willingly fulfil their responsibilities thousands of police officers who provided excellent to continue this journey we started in 1994. security for the elections • The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga, Thank you. Enkosi. Dankie. Ngiyathokoza. Ngiyabonga. and the leadership and staff of the Department