South Africa gears for elections
Nthambeleni Gabara
16 April 2009
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has opened a results operation centre at the Tshwane Events Centre in Pretoria to give journalists, observers and political party representatives access to the information as it becomes available on South Africa's election day on 22 April.
The centre will operate from 7am on 22 April until late in the evening of 23 April, when it is expected that the majority of the results will be in.
It will serve as the central management point for operational and electoral issues and a focal point for political parties, government officials, business leaders and the media to gather during the voting, counting and results phases of the elections.
IEC chairperson Brigalia Bam said a pool area would be available to media representatives who did not book offices at the ROC. The pool area will be equipped with computers, printing facilities, telephones and faxes. Except for the use of the telephones and faxes, these facilities will be available free of charge.
High turnout expected
Over 23-million voters, including 1.5-million new voters, are registered for this year's elections, and Bam said the IEC expected a high turnout on election day due to the vibrancy of the current party political scene.
"The vibrancy of the current party political scene contributed to the outstanding enthusiasm of the public to be correctly registered," Bam said. "The social responsibility which the media displayed in promoting registration activities contributed greatly.
"All of this bodes well for a high turnout at the elections, and that will be good for democracy in our country."
Source: BuaNews
