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Elections 2019

WELCOME TO SANEF’s ELECTION PORTAL

ELECTIONS 2019

Through this portal you can access the South Africa 2019 Elections: Handbook for Journalists and other resources.

South African 2019 Elections: Handbook for Journalists

Published by: South African National Editors’ Forum

Date of publication: 27 February 2019

This handbook – prepared for the upcoming 2019 general election in South Africa – is aimed at assisting members of the media to fulfil this constitutional mandate.  In doing so, it provides both the legal underpinnings that apply to the media, as well as practical guidance to ensure that the task of election coverage is fulfilled effectively.  Although it focuses specifically on the legal framework for the national and provincial elections, it is hoped that the content and guidance contained in this handbook will be of broader relevance to members of the media beyond the scope of the upcoming elections.

Module I provides an overview of how elections in South Africa work, including the system of voting, election milestones and key institutions governing elections.  Module II highlights specific aspects relevant to the media during elections, including the applicable legal and self-regulatory frameworks, the publication of opinion polls and practical guidance for journalists on the ground.  Module III addresses the issue of so-called ‘fake news’ during the elections and possible strategies that members of the media can follow to address the negative impact that this can have on the outcome of the elections.  Lastly, Module IV considers the safety of journalists, both on- and offline, and the measures that journalists can take to protect their rights.

South Africa 2019 Elections: Handbook for Journalists by the South African National Editors’ Forum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Download the SANEF Handbook (1.8mb).

Download the Elections Training Presentation (1.3mb).

> Go to Module 1: How the Elections Work

16.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Final Report of Stats-SA Points to Negligible Potential of Double Voting

13.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Electoral Commission Thanks South Africa

11.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Announcement of Results of National and Provincial Elections

09.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Commission to Conduct Sample Audit of Results

07.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Everything in Place and Ready for Election Day 2019

07.05.2019: Read IEC Speaking Notes for Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo for Election Readiness Media Briefing

06.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Electoral Commission Reaches Agreement with NEHAWU

06.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: First Day of Special Voting Summary

06.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Ramadan Mubarak to All Muslim Voters

05.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Commission Appeals for Calm, Vigilance as Voting Begins

05.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Update on Digital Disinformation Initiative

03.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Revised Universal Ballot Templates for Longer Ballot Papers

02.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: All Systems “Go!” For National and Provincial Elections 2019

01.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Electoral Commission Announces State Of Readiness

01.05.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Briefing on Allocation of Space at the Results Operation Centre

30.04.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Over 770 000 Voters to Cast Special Votes

30.04.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Official Opening Of the National Results Operation Centre

30.04.2019: Read IEC Speaking Notes for the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mr Glen Mashinin at the Official Opening of the National Results Operations Centre

25.04.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: First Votes in National Elections to be cast in less than 30 hours

25.04.2019: ReadIEC Press Statement: Electoral Commission Launches the National Results Operation Centre

25.04.2019: Read IEC Reminder for Media Accreditation for all Results Operation Centres for the 2019 National and Provincial Elections

24.04.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Commission Meets Democratic Alliance over Complaints

18.04.2019: Listen to Sanef Public Service Announcements on the importance of the media in elections and the protection of journalists.

10.04.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Results of the Municipal By-Elections held on 10 April 2019

09.04.2019: Read IEC Speech delivered by Acting Provincial Electoral Officer Thabo Masemula at the Code of Conduct Signing Ceremony for National and Provincial Elections 2019

09.04.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Commission Upholds One, Overturns 51 Objections against Candidates for National and Provincial Elections 2019

08.04.2019: View CPJ Presentation on the Safety of Journalists

08.04.2019: View Code for Africa Presentation for Sanef Election Training Workshop

08.04.2019: View IEC Programme of the Signing Code of Conduct Ceremony

05.04.2019: View IEC Media Invitation of the Signing Code of Conduct Ceremony

05.04.2019: View IEC Presentation on KwaZulu-Natal Province 2019 Election Process, the State of Readiness, Free and Fair Elections, Legislative Mandates and Outcomes

04.04.2019: Read IEC Media Statement: Opening Of Special Vote Applications for National and Provincial Elections 2019

02.04.2019: Read ICASA Media Statement: ICASA Proclaims the Election Broadcast Period and Allocates PEB Slots to Political Parties

01.04.2019: Read IEC Media Statement: Electoral Commission Launches Online Reporting Platform For Digital Disinformation

01.04.2019: Read Opening Remarks by IEC Chief Electoral Officer Mr Sy Mamabolo on the Launch of Digital Disinformation Initiative

01.04.2019: View Media Monitoring Africa Presentation on Solutions to Combat Disinformation

29.03.2019: View Media Monitoring Africa Invitation To a Real 411 Fight Disinformation Together

29.03.2019: Read IEC Press Statement Electoral Commission Launches Online Reporting Platform for Digital Disinformation

28.03.2019: Read IEC Media Statement on Results of the Municipal By-Elections held on 27 March 2019

27.03.2019: View IEC List of Political Parties Contesting In the 2019 National Elections

27.03.2019: Read Broadcast Pool Feeds Of Electoral Commission Events at the National Results Operations Centre

27.03.2019: Read IEC Media Statement on Clarification of Ballot Paper order for National and Provincial Elections 2019

26.03.2019: Download Registration Form for Media Attendance at the IEC Results Centre, Tshwane Exhibition Centre, Tshwabac, Hall J, Souter Street, Pretoria

26.03.2019: Read IEC Media Statement on Arrangements for the Results Operation Centres

25.03.2019: View Academy Africa Presentation on Data for Journalism: Giving Citizens Actionable Information 

25.03.2019: View Academy Africa Presentation on Tools for Investigations, Verification, Monitoring, Botspoting and Security.

25.03.2019: View MMA Presentation on Solutions to Fight Disinformation for 2019 Elections

22.03.2019: Read IEC Press Release: Voters’ Roll Certified For National and Provincial Elections 2019

22.03.2019: Read Press Release by Social Surveys Institute, Open Up and Grassroot Partnership: Big Debate Poll Says South Africans Still Have Faith in Politicians

20.03.2019: Read Speech of Election Readiness by IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Sy Mamabolo

20.03.2019: Read IEC Press Statement: Parties Pledge Commitment to the Electoral Code of Conduct

20.03.2019: Read IEC Press Statement on the Record Number of Political Parties Which Will Contest the 2019 National and Provincial Elections

18.03.2019: Read IEC Media Invitation on Signing of the Code of Conduct Pledge

14.03.2019: Read Press Release by Social Surveys Institute, Open Up and Grassroot Partnership: Big Debate Poll Says South Africans Want Land Nationalised

12.03.2019: Read the IEC Media Release: Final Day for Parties Wishing to Contest in National and Provincial Elections 2019

11.03.2019: View the 2019 National and Provincial Elections Timetable

07.03.2019: Read MMA Presentation on Solutions to Combat Disinformation for 2019 Elections

07.03.2019: Read IEC Media Statement: One Week Left for Applicants to Vote Aboard

07.03.2019: Read IEC presentation on the National and Provincial Elections 2019: The Role of the Media in Free and Fair Elections

07.03.2019: Read ACHPR Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa

07.03.2019: Read ICASA’s 2019 Presentation on National and Provincial Elections Coverage on Television and Radio

07.03.2019: Read the IEC – Commencement of 2019 Electoral Laws Amendment Act and Updated Timetable

04.03.2019: The Real 411, an online portal to report disinformation, has launched. The Real 411 is a Media Monitoring Africa initiative.

28.02.2019: South Africa sees four men for every one woman whose opinion is quoted in the media: during the run-up to elections, it’s seven men for every one woman. Read the Quote a Women Project – Concept Note

27.02.2019: Read the IEC – Presentation on Preparations for the 2019 National and Provincial Elections (27 February 2019)

27.02.2019: Voting aboard is scheduled for Saturday, 27 April 2019. Read the IEC – Communique on Voting Abroad in the 2019 National Election (26 February 2019).

27.02.2019: The President has officially set Wednesday, 8 May 2019 as the election day. Read the Proclamation of the Election Date (25 February 2019).

27.02.2019: The SANEF Elections 2019 Portal has launched!

Get urgent assistance

For urgent assistance, please contact the South African Police Service on 10111 or lodge complaints with the South African Human Rights Commission or the Independent Electoral Commission. For additional assistance, you can access the CPJ South Africa Election Safety for Journalists Toolkit.

Report a matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS)

In the event that a member of the media is facing any form of threat or violence, this must be reported to the South African Police Service as a matter of urgency, as the appropriate authority tasked with handling criminal matters.

All members of the media are encouraged to prioritise their safety and the safety of those around them, put in place necessary measures for protection, and seek appropriate assistance from colleagues, friends and family, and the designated bodies that can assist.

Lodge a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)

A complaint may also be lodged with the South African Human Rights Commission in accordance with the Complaints Handling Procedures (1 January 2018).  The South African Human Rights Commission is competent to investigate any alleged violation of human rights, either on its own initiative or on receipt of a complaint, and has a wide discretion to decide whether to investigate a complaint or not.

Report a matter to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)

During the election period, the IEC should be approached with any matter that falls within its jurisdiction as a contravention of the electoral law framework.  For example, section 8 of the Electoral Code of Conduct requires candidates to respect the role of the media during elections, including by not preventing members of the media from accessing public political meetings, marches, demonstrations and rallies.  It further provides that every party and candidate must take all reasonable steps to ensure that journalists are not subjected to harassment, intimidation, hazard, threat or physical assault by any of their representatives or supporters.  In the event that a registered party or candidate does not adhere to these provisions, this should be brought to the attention of the Commission as a breach of the Electoral Code of Conduct.

For media inquiries please contact – [email protected]

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