Embassy of Japan Team Observes the National and Provincial Elections 2009:
Japan’s Contribution and Observation Report:

On April 22nd, H. E. Mr. T Ozawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of South Africa and seven other diplomats visited 16 voting stations located in Johannesburg and Pretoria in the Gauteng province. The team observed the voting and tallying processes.

H.E. Mr. T Ozawa, Ambassador to S.A and Mr. Naito chatting to an IEC official. Voters waiting for their turn

IEC official showing H.E. Mr. T Ozawa how to scan i.d books

Embassy staff members were impressed by the professional manner in which the IEC staff carried out their task, despite their long working hours. Party Agents were present at all voting station, in accordance with the election regulations. Even though there were long queues in some of the voting stations, voters waited patiently. Irregular occurrences were resolved through constructive consultations with relevant staff and then put in order.

Mr. Takayuki Miyashita, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, observing the election process Voters waiting for their turn

 

In this 4th National Democratic Election, Embassy staff members observed that the election procedure information and rules were widely and properly disseminated to voters and party agents.

Based on their experiences in the voting stations visits, the eight Japanese Embassy staff members share the evaluations announced by the AU, SADC and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) regarding the election－ it was successful and conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

It is also recognized that democracy and the culture of non-violence are being consolidated in South Africa, where its historical success of democratization through dialogue has inspired the world.

Japanese Grant for General Elections for the Republic of South Africa

  • Following the grant of automobiles for the General Election of 1999 and 2004, the Government of Japan, for the 2009 election,
    assisted the IEC in voter education campaigns by financing the publishing of balloting education materials in the form of comic booklets amounting to R 3, 377,393.00.
  • Embassy staff members witnessed the distribution of the balloting material by the IEC staff to potential voters in advance, and on the voting day, encountered a voter who was reading the same material while he was waiting his turn.

After the election, the Embassy of Japan sent a report to the IEC with some constructive suggestions for future elections.