SA parties brainstorm free and fair polls

By Babalo Ndenze

Cape Town - Opposition parties, concerned about the fairness of next year’s elections, are to devise a plan to “level the political playing field”.

Twelve opposition political parties represented in Parliament, provincial legislatures and municipal councils around the country, gathered on Monday to thrash out ideas to try to ensure the scheduled general elections would be free and fair. Some of their plans include proposing amendments to the Electoral Act and approaching the Constitutional Court.

The parties also raised their concern about the perceived bias of the SABC, the accreditation of international observers and political party funding.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, who chaired the forum, said the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) conference in 2007 identified a number of “critical areas” which required urgent attention “to level the political playing field” before and after the 2009 elections.

Holomisa said some of the matters discussed included party funding, independence of the IEC, or lack thereof, appointment of election staff, party agents and the role of the National Intelligence Agency, among others.

“We have made some progress, but sadly, most of these resolutions could not be implemented because the ruling party and its IEC simply did not want to come to the table and talk sense,” said Holomisa.

Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota said as patriotic opposition parties they had a duty to ensure they raised the level of quality of democracy.

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Holomisa claimed that in 1994 the SABC “had given large coverage to the manifesto launches and closing rallies of the ruling party”.

“This unfairly promoted the ruling party. It was only after intervention of the multiparty forum that the situation improved somewhat,” he said.

“We find ourselves at the doorstep of the 2014 national and provincial elections, confronted with too many of the same issues that faced us in 2009 and previous elections,” said Holomisa.

“We must make sure the ruling party does not monopolise to its own advantage or to the disadvantage of others. Going to elections we don’t want to see a situation similar to Zimbabwe in which those who are in power abuse that power so as to distort the outcomes of the elections,” said Lekota.

Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald said it was normally the opposition parties which experienced the most problems in any election.

“The governing party will use any means and method to ensure they stay in power. Many issues will have to be addressed,” said Groenewald.

National Freedom Party spokesman Nhlanhla Khubisa said the focus should be on the voters themselves. He said for opposition concerns to be taken seriously, legislative amendments would be required.

“For a voice to be strong it must be legislated.”

IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe said a “more equitable” formula to give parties fair media coverage was needed by the SABC.

United Christian Democratic Party MP Isaac Mfundisi said the SABC’s giving precedence to one party “tilts the playing field”.

Political Bureau