21 Aug 2017

Most schools visited by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) have been receptive to the voter education campaign messages.

The IEC principal elections officer in the South East District, Ms Pelonomi Selemogwe-Kwaramba said this during the Party Liaison Committee (PLC) meeting in Ramotswa recently.

 “Schools were very receptive to our visits, they say that most learners tend to pay more attention when they are addressed by someone from outside,” she stated.

 Nonetheless the IEC office was encouraged to come up with modern methods of captivating learners’ attention other than relying on traditional methods.

 Therefore, Ms Selemogwe-Kwaramba also noted that there is need for more promotional materials and visuals to win the students’ attention.

She stated that some of the messages that they imparted to students included the purpose and mandate of the IEC, democracy sustenance, voter’s civic rights as well as the responsibilities of councillors and members of parliament.

Ms Selemogwe-Kwaramba said that their campaign seeks to cultivate students’ interest on issues of democracy and governance so that by the time they are eligible to vote, they will see the value of participating in elections.

On other issues, the principal elections officer noted that her officer also has addressed kgotla meeting on the changes on the Electoral Act, such as the introduction of the Electronic Voting Machine.
 

She noted that during consultations, most of the residents were sceptical of the EVM introduction while others wanted to see the machine samples.

 Furthermore, some opined that they should have been consulted before the Electoral Act was amended.
 

Election officer, Mr Carthrage Modisane told the stakeholders that the IEC cannot suspend civic education on the introduction of EVM.
 

He stated that they have been advised that the court case about the EVM introduction does not interdict public education about the changes in the Election act.

The office is mandated by the Act to carry on with its duties of educating the public about the EVM. He was responding to a member who wanted know if it is possible for the office to suspend public education about the machine.

On others issues, the meeting participants stated that there is need for the police to avoid leading motorcades close to each other during election campaigns.
 

They cited that during the recent bye-election in Tlokweng, motorcades passed closer to each, consequently disturbing each other.

The meeting participants stated that the parade could turn unsavoury if unattended hence the need to adhere to the code of conduct. ENDS