Zuko Komisa
Chief Executive Officer of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), Sy Mamabolo, has emphasised the necessity of using new voting technology in a responsible and inclusive manner.
Mamabolo was speaking at the e-Voting Conference in Cape Town on Monday. The IEC will hold a historic national discussion at the Cape Town International Convention Centre about the future of voting in South Africa from the 10th to the 12th of March 2025.
The conference has brought together political leaders, decision-makers, business representatives, civil society members, and the public. Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and electoral authorities from countries with e-voting experience are also participating.
In order to influence how South Africans may vote in next elections, this three-day conference will introduce the country’s first Green Paper on e-Voting, bringing together perspectives from various facets of society.
“While digitalisation is becoming more prevalent in our daily lives, we must acknowledge that some portions of our country continue to have limited access to broadband connectivity, particularly in rural areas. In our discussion here, let us not be oblivious that a significant number of South Africans still have limited access to technology.
“Having said so, it is evident that the adoption of new technologies is apposite and necessary. We cannot be oblivious to the ever-present force that drives innovation and exposes us to new possibilities,” Mamabolo said.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to IEC’s Provincial Electoral Officer in Gauteng, Thabo Masemula who further elaborated the process of introducing e-voting to South Africa.
Listen to the full conversation here:
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