The Government of Japan funds voter education material for the IEC

Date : 24 February 2009

The Government of Japan, through its Grant Assistance for Grass Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme, extended its assistance to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for the publication of its electoral educational material to the amount of R 3, 377, 393.00.

This material will be in a comic book format and available in all of South Africa’s 11 official languages as well as Braille for the visually impaired. Three million copies of the material will be disseminated through the 9 provincial offices of the IEC.

The Grant Contract signing ceremony between the IEC and the Embassy of Japan was held on the 24th February 2009 at 10:30am on the premises of the IEC in Pretoria with the attendance of His Excellency Mr. Toshiro Ozawa, Ambassador of Japan, Dr. Brigalia Bam the Chairperson of the IEC and Advocate Pansy Tlakula, Chief Electoral Officer of the IEC.

The Government of Japan has previously supported the IEC’s efforts to conduct voter education campaigns by donating 18 motor vehicles for both the 1999 and the 2004 elections.