The SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) has issued its preliminary statement on South Africa’s 2024 National and Provincial Elections, alongside other regional observation missions.
On May 31, 2024, at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Johannesburg, His Excellency Enock Kavindele, Head of SEOM, joined forces with His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya and Head of the African Union Electoral Observation Mission (AU-EOM), His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria and Head of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), and Ms. Mwangala Zaloumis, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia and Head of Mission for the Electoral Commissions Forum for SADC Countries (ECF-SADC), to release their joint statements on the elections.
Mr. Kavindele praised the organization and conduct of the pre-election and voting phases, noting that they were managed professionally and in an orderly, peaceful, and free environment, allowing voters to express their democratic will. He also commended the South African electorate for their political maturity, tolerance, and calm during the election period.
The SEOM, AU-EOM, EISA, and ECF-SADC collectively concluded that South Africa’s 2024 National and Provincial Elections were peaceful, transparent, free, and credible.
The SEOM observed the election in line with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021) and relevant laws. Their preliminary statement covers observations from the pre-election period and voting day activities. According to these principles and guidelines, the mission will issue a final report within 30 days of this preliminary statement.
