EFF statement on the non-functionality of IEC’s voter management devices

19 September 2021

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes with concern the non-functionality of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Voter Management Devices as a result of 'mapping issues'. The EFF finds this to be unacceptable and a threat to our democracy, especially when the IEC has been pronouncing its readiness to conduct voter registration and elections. This can only mean that the IEC has misled the public and parliament. The IECs incompetency has also been demonstrated with the online registration systern, which goes offline for hours also due to so called 'technical glitches'.

The EFF views this act as a voter suppression project, to deliberately ensure that the people of this country continue to be excluded in participating rneaningfully in this democracy. Moreover, this is an act of sabotage and ambush atternpt on the EFF voter registration drive of our people, particularly the youth.

The EFF has also long pointed out and deduced the IEC of not being independent, and led by partisan individuals who cannot be trusted but are rather concerned with descending into the political arena. This also indicates that the upcoming local Government Elections ought to be monitored closely. As such, the EFF will write to parliament to call the IEC to account, and also give an outline of the corrective measures which will be taken to ensure that such an incident never happens again.

Issued by Leigh-Ann Mathys, Elections Spokesperson, EFF, 18 September 2021