15 Sep 2019

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has raised the threshold for streamlining polling stations to 1 050 registered voters in the South East District.

Principal elections officer in the South East District, Ms Pelonomi Selemogwe-Kwaramba, said this at a meeting with the Party Liaison Committee (PLC) members, to update them on preparations for the general election on September 13 .

Ms Selemogwe-Kwaramba told the meeting that rationalising polling stations was an administrative issue of the commission, therefore, the decision by the IEC not to divide some of the polling stations had not contravened the law as some members had alleged.

Members had noted that none of the polling stations in the Ramotswa constituency would be streamlined to cater for large numbers while in Tlokweng only two would be streamlined.

The committee had anticipated that at least five polling stations would be streamlined in Ramotswa and four in Tlokweng.

The PLC thus accused the IEC of planning to frustrate voters in the upcoming elections, arguing that failure to streamline polling stations would result in unnecessary long queues on the election day, which they argued  would also deter some people from voting.

The committee also argued that such was a move by the IEC to disregard voters’ interests after they scrapped off some polling stations after the previous elections.

On other issues, Ms Selemogwe-Kwaramba said preparations for the elections were on track and training of polling staff was also underway.

She told the meeting that counting centres would be at Tlokweng Community Hall as well as at Kagiso Senior Secondary School in Ramotswa.

She reminded PLC members of their role in ensuring that the country held free and peaceful elections, adding ‘your role will continue to be required until the election day.’

However, she applauded the PLC for its role in the previous by-elections for Kelemogile Ward in Ramotswa and Tlokweng constituency.

Ms Selemogwe-Kwaramba further pleaded with PLC members to continue to sensitise the public on the elections code of conduct in their various campaigns.

PLC is a group comprising the IEC as its secretariat as well as representatives from political parties, traditional leaders, local authorities, district commissioner, civil society, media and churches, among others.  ENDS