PARC gaan ook waarnemers wees tydens die komende munisipale verkiesing PARC will also be observers during the upcoming municipal election

Deur Glen Snyman, leier van PARC. By Glen Snyman, leader of PARC.

Die People Against Race Classification (PARC) gaan op 4 November 2026 deel vorm van die groep waarnemers wat die komende munisipale verkiesing gaan waarneem. People Against Race Classification (PARC) will, on 4 November 2026, form part of the group of observers monitoring the upcoming municipal election.

Glen Snyman en drie ander lede van sy PARC-aksiespan het op 15 Oktober 2026 die Onafhanklike Verkiesings kommissie (IEC) se waarnemers opleiding in Kaapstad bygewoon. Glen Snyman and three other members of his PARC action team attended the Independent Electoral Commission's (IEC) observer training in Cape Town on 15 October 2026.

PARC is een van 30 onafhanklike organisasies in die Wes-Kaap wat geakkrediteer is om tydens die komende verkiesing as onafhanklike waarnemers op te tree. PARC is one of 30 independent organisations in the Western Cape accredited to act as independent observers during the upcoming election.

Waarnemers dra by tot die gehalte en geloofwaardigheid van 'n verkiesing. Hulle doen hul waarnemings op grond van inligting en help om kiesers se vertroue in die demokratiese proses te versterk. Observers contribute to the quality and credibility of an election. They base their observations on information and help strengthen voters' trust in the democratic process.

As die IEC se ekstra oë en ore, monitor hulle die verkiesings proses onafhanklik en dra hulle by tot die identifisering van moontlike onreëlmatighede en toekomstige verbeterings wat aangebring kan word. Waarnemers ontvang nie betaling van die IEC nie; hulle lewer dus hierdie diens vrywillig in belang van die gemeenskap van Suid-Afrika. As the IEC's extra eyes and ears, they monitor the election process independently and help identify possible irregularities and future improvements. Observers receive no payment from the IEC; they therefore provide this service voluntarily in the interest of the South African community.

PARC is baie bly en verheug oor hierdie gulde geleentheid om, hoewel dit 'n klein bydrae mag wees, tog 'n belangrike rol te speel in die bevordering van die positiewe funksionering en ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrikaanse staats instellings, soos die IEC, en sodoende by te dra tot die verkiesing van nuwe plaaslike regerings. Ons moet ons land verdedig en nie toelaat dat die internasionale gemeenskap 'n oordrewe negatiewe beeld van ons land kry nie. PARC is very pleased about this golden opportunity to play an important role, however small a contribution it may be, in promoting the positive functioning and development of South African state institutions, such as the IEC, and so contribute to the election of new local governments. We must defend our country and not allow the international community to form an exaggerated negative image of our country.

Waarnemers volg bepaalde riglyne wanneer hulle die verkiesings proses waarneem. Ná afloop van die verkiesing dien hulle 'n onafhanklike verslag by die IEC in waarin hulle hul waarnemings en bevindings uiteensit. Feitlikheid is die wagwoord. Observers follow certain guidelines when observing the election process. After the election, they submit an independent report to the IEC setting out their observations and findings. Factuality is the watchword.

Snyman en sy span is baie opgewonde oor hierdie geleentheid. Hulle glo dat die demokrasie waarin ons vandag leef, met blydskap omarm en gevier moet word. Snyman and his team are very excited about this opportunity. They believe that the democracy in which we live today should be embraced and celebrated with joy.

Die gemeenskap moet ook daarvan kennis neem dat enige doelbewuste inmenging met, manipulasie van of gekonkelry met die verkiesings proses ernstige regs gevolge kan inhou. Ingevolge die Kieswet 73 van 1998 kan bepaalde verkiesings oortredings 'n strafregtelike oortreding uitmaak en, by skuldig bevinding, tot 'n boete of selfs gevangenis straf lei. Niemand behoort dus die integriteit van ons demokratiese proses ligtelik op te neem nie! The community should also note that any deliberate interference with, manipulation of or collusion with the election process can carry serious legal consequences. Under the Electoral Act 73 of 1998, certain election offences constitute a criminal offence and, on conviction, can lead to a fine or even imprisonment. No one should therefore take the integrity of our democratic process lightly!

In Oktober 2025 het die IEC 'n werkswinkel in Oudtshoorn aangebied om 'n voorstel te bespreek oor die moontlike oorgang na 'n volledig elektroniese kies stelsel. Verskeie lande wat reeds van sulke stelsels gebruik maak, is as voorbeeld bespreek, tesame met die voor- en nadele daarvan. In October 2025, the IEC held a workshop in Oudtshoorn to discuss a proposal on the possible transition to a fully electronic voting system. Several countries already using such systems were discussed as examples, together with their advantages and disadvantages.

Snyman het die voorstel ondersteun omdat 'n elektroniese kies stelsel moontlik (a) goedkoper, (b) vinniger en (c) meer akkuraat kan wees, terwyl dit ook (d) menslike foute wat tydens die verkiesings proses kan insluip, kan verminder. Volgens Snyman beskik Suid-Afrika reeds oor die vermoë om so 'n stelsel te implementeer, maar wat nog nodig is, is die politieke wil om dit te verwesenlik. Snyman supported the proposal because an electronic voting system could potentially be (a) cheaper, (b) faster and (c) more accurate, while also (d) reducing human errors that can creep into the election process. According to Snyman, South Africa already has the capacity to implement such a system, but what's still needed is the political will to make it happen.