Sy Mamabolo has been appointed the new chief electoral officer of the independent electoral commission (IEC), replacing Mosotho Moepya who resigned in May.
A former head of the electoral commission in Gauteng, Mamabolo is now tasked with leading the commission towards the 2019 elections, which he described as a new era for South Africa.
“Prevailing political conditions are some of the most exciting as our democracy comes of age and enter a new era in this country,” Mamabolo told journalists at the IEC’s headquarters in Centurion.
He was appointed to the position after serving as Moepya’s deputy, and was introduced as the IEC announced a new voters address campaign.
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The IEC has called on registered voters to visit its website to update their address details, which are required to maintain the credibility of the election.
“The credibility of elections hinges on the accuracy of the voters roll.
The absence of addresses remains a critical risk to the credibility of election,” the new CEO said.
Mamabolo’s most urgent task is attempting to meet a June 2018 constitutional court deadline to collect the addresses of around seven million registered voters.
“There are currently just under 26-million registered voters, of whom 19-million have addresses, 3 million do not have an address and 4-million have an incomplete address,” Mamabolo said.
Registered voters can access the IEC website here.