Compiled by Barbara Whittle

The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) will shortly launch its observer mission for the 2016 local government elections. Attorneys are invited to join the LSSA election observer team. Online registration – also for the training – is available on the LSSA website at www.LSSA.org.za (under ‘Our initiatives’).

To join the election observer team, you must –

• be a practising attorney;
• be in good standing with your provincial law society;
• attend one free observer training session provided by the LSSA (dates and centres indicated below); and
• be registered to vote and be voting on election day.

Attorneys are required to visit at least three voting stations of their choice on election day and report on their observations.

For more information or to register for training, e-mail Jeanne-Mari Retief at jeanne-mari@LSSA.org.za

Training centres and dates

In 2014 the LSSA launched its first observer mission during the national elections and attorneys were deployed to voting stations across the country to observe the voting process at various voting stations.

A report was compiled from the observer feedback and sent to the Electoral Commission (IEC). The LSSA’s goal was to place trained attorneys in the field on election day to observe the election processes at voting stations. The final report compiled by the LSSA was submitted to the IEC. This can be viewed on the LSSA website under ‘Our initiatives’.

Compiled by Barbara Whittle, communication manager, Law Society of South Africa, barbara@lssa.org.za

This article was first published in De Rebus in 2016 (Jan/Feb) DR 15.