House Chair, fellow South Africans. How sacred is your vote? On 27 April 1994 millions of South Africans who had never had
the opportunity to vote, voted for the very first time. We dreamt of a South Africa we could be proud of, one South Africa for All.
Chapter 9 institutions were established to defend our Constitutional Democracy. The independent Electoral Commission, IEC, to ensure the free and fair opportunity to exercise that hard won right to vote.
In the recent elections the integrity of the electoral processes was called into question like never before. Loop holes were discovered, which allowed voters to cast multiple votes. There wasn't a fully addressed voter's roll and the forms required to register addresses ran out at several voting stations. The 2019 Election was a watershed moment where it became clear that reform is needed. The IEC set about putting in place measures to safeguard the vote. These measures include the replacement of outdated zip- zip machines with a new online voter registration technology and deployment of technology to facilitate real time live voters roll.
If someone had come to you on that day in 1994 and said this electoral process is not important, not a priority, it would have been a slap in the face. Yet we are now told there is not enough money available due to austerity measures. Thus, the IEC is left
with a R300 billion deficit and is unable to implement the measures necessary to curb multiple voting. This is unacceptable.
We are told there is no money, when, according to a recent study, the government spends well over R300 billion on luxury vehicles for high- ranking officials. The DA government would redirect money allocated for luxury vehicles to address this shortfall as a matter of urgency. Free and fair elections are not a luxury, Chair. In terms of section 190(b) of the Constitution, the Electoral Commission must ensure that those elections are free and fair.
Our Chapter 9 institutions face a crisis of credibility. This funding is not an option. We are faced with local government elections, in just two years' time and we need decisive action, for change. The kind of action that hon Bhongo spoke about. We need urgent interventions that will address this as a matter of urgency, to protect our vote and to protect our Chapter 9 institutions. Therefore, the DA calls on National Treasury to give this funding the top priority status that it deserves. One vote for all, one South Africa for all!