PHOTOS: Uhuru visits polling stations as South Africans head to polls

Retired President and the head of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) Uhuru Kenyatta visited polling stations today as South Africa's general elections commenced.

In a statement from the former Head of State’s office on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, Uhuru was joined by other international observers.

"President (Rtd) Uhuru Kenyatta, the head of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), joined other international observers at polling stations as South Africa's General Elections commenced this morning. This election is a significant milestone in South Africa's democratic journey, with a record 27.79 million registered voters, the highest number since the end of apartheid," the statement read.

The Independent Electoral Commission confirmed the impressive voter registration numbers noting that citizens are voting to elect a new National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures across the country's nine provinces.

Throughout the day, Kenyatta and his team will engage with other observers to share insights and assessments on the electoral process.

"The former Head of State and his team will engage with other observers throughout the day to share insights and assessments on the electoral process. Their presence underscores the importance of transparency, fairness, and credibility in the election. The AUEOM's involvement highlights the African Union's commitment to supporting democratic processes across the continent."

SA elections

On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, Uhuru Kenyatta led a pre-election debriefing and participated in a peer-exchange session with the heads of International Electoral Observation Missions (IEOMs) at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, South Africa, in preparation for the upcoming National and Provincial Elections set for May 29, 2024.

As the head of theAUEOM, Kenyatta outlined the mission's structure, which includes 65 observers from 26 African countries, encompassing members from the AU Permanent Representative Council, the Pan African Parliament (PAP), election management boards, civil society organizations, think tanks, women's and youth groups, and various technical teams.

He shared that the mission has engaged with key stakeholders such as the National Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINS), South Africa's Chief Justice, the South African Council of Churches, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), and the Commissioners of the Electoral Commission of South Africa.

Kenyatta emphasized that these interactions have provided crucial insights into the electoral process and highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure a transparent and credible election.

He noted that these elections are expected to be the most intensely contested in three decades, reflecting a highly competitive political environment. Despite the fierce competition, legal challenges related to the electoral process have been addressed swiftly, ensuring that they do not impede the democratic process.