SA limits diplomatic observers during elections

Grant

Grant

Honorary Master
Joined
Mar 27, 2007
Messages
69,784
Reaction score
38,314
Location
Behind the grassy knoll
Foreign missions will for the first time be limited to sending only their ambassadors or high commissioners in the country to observe Wednesday’s elections.

If the head cannot make it, no substitute would be allowed.

The department of international relations (Dirco), which is apparently for the first time dealing with the accreditation of these observers instead of the Independent Electoral Commission, said in a press release this afternoon that South Africa would allow observers “even for countries that don’t extend the same courtesy to us during their own elections”.
It didn’t say which countries those were, but said South Africa often sent observer missions to other parts of the world – mostly Africa.

Department spokesperson Clayson Monyela confirmed in the statement that South Africa had previously extended the invitation beyond the heads of mission, but said this year the invite was only sent to heads of mission and was not transferable.
“The practice of foreign countries and international organisations monitoring elections is accepted as one of the ways in which the international community can monitor and promote compliance with democratic values, principles and practices,” he said in the statement.

A Western diplomat said it was unclear why diplomatic observers had been limited and why Dirco, and not the IEC, was suddenly dealing with accreditation.
“Missions had already been in touch with the IEC for months to receive their observer badges and were surprised by this last-minute change by Dirco. We don’t understand what precipitated these changes.
“SA was always the most open and transparent and the IEC precipitated in spreading this function [of allowing diplomatic observers] through the continent. If SA is going to follow other countries’ lead in closing down access, this bodes badly for democracy,” the diplomat said.
Some Western embassies had in the past dispatched a few dozen of its diplomats to observe the elections.

Monyela did not respond to a query this afternoon and IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela didn’t answer her phone or respond to an SMS.

The Star today quoted a source who had been to a meeting called by International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane where she invoked the Vienna Convention, which governs diplomatic relations between countries, to justify her decision.
The Star also reported that the decision to invite only the heads of state of South Africa’s closest allies, like Brazil, Russia, India and China, as well as from other African countries to attend the presidential inauguration at the end of the month, had raised eyebrows among some of those who didn’t make the list.
Other countries like Zimbabwe had in recent elections limited access for Western observers, accusing them of interference.

Monyela said in the statement that the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the Commonwealth had already dispatched their missions.
The United Nations was also invited to send a mission.
The European Union also received an invitation, but reportedly said it would not send an official one because it had full trust in South Africa’s democratic process.
Click to expand...
http://www.citypress.co.za/politics/sa-limits-diplomatic-observers-elections/
 
Wait... a government department is limiting outside observers? This should be the IEC!

This is worrying for separation of powers.
 
So right before voting happens, conditions around free and fair elections are imposed? This is not deeply concerning in the very least...
 
ghoti said:
Yup, you have a choice to do something or do nothing.
Click to expand...

I will vote because I am not 100% certain it will be a futile gesture.
I am about 95% sure it will be a futile gesture but that 5% changes everything.
 
AstroTurf said:
I will vote because I am not 100% certain it will be a futile gesture.
I am about 95% sure it will be a futile gesture but that 5% changes everything.
Click to expand...

At least you are doing something. The opposition (whomever you choose), needs every vote that people can offer. The more opposition we have, the more accountable the ANC government will be.
 
ghoti said:
At least you are doing something. The opposition (whomever you choose), needs every vote that people can offer. The more opposition we have, the more accountable the ANC government will be.
Click to expand...

Vote rigging is imminent. Pieces of paper will not make them step down.
 
AstroTurf said:
I will vote because I am not 100% certain it will be a futile gesture.
I am about 95% sure it will be a futile gesture but that 5% changes everything.
Click to expand...

How will it be futile? They've already lost a province through people simply voting them out. Nothing stopping other provinces from following suit. If they attempt to rig it that'll cause an even larger outcry, locally and internationally, which will also be a step in the right direction. It's not futile at all.
 
OrbitalDawn said:
How will it be futile? They've already lost a province through people simply voting them out. Nothing stopping other provinces from following suit. If they attempt to rig it that'll cause an even larger outcry, locally and internationally, which will also be a step in the right direction. It's not futile at all.
Click to expand...

Just like it was in Zim.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X