SEOM Releases Preliminary Statement on 2024 South African Elections
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) has released its preliminary statement regarding the 2024 National and Provincial Elections in the Republic of South Africa.
The statement, jointly issued with other regional observation missions, commends the overall conduct of the elections.
The joint release took place at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg and included notable dignitaries such as His Excellency Mr. Enock Kavindele, Head of the SEOM to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. 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, Head of Mission for the Electoral Commissions Forum for SADC Countries (ECF-SADC) and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
In his address, H.E. Mr. Kavindele praised the professional organization and orderly conduct of the pre-election and voting phases.
He noted the peaceful atmosphere that allowed voters to express their democratic will freely.
“The people of South Africa have demonstrated commendable political maturity, a spirit of tolerance, and calm throughout the election period,” said Kavindele.
The SEOM, along with AU-EOM, EISA, and ECF-SADC, collectively concluded that the 2024 elections were conducted in a peaceful, transparent, free, and credible manner. Their observations were made in accordance with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021) and relevant South African laws.
The preliminary statement reflects the missions’ observations during the pre-election period and on voting day. As stipulated by the SADC Principles and Guidelines, the SEOM will issue a Final Report within 30 days following the release of the preliminary statement.
