Nedlac Social Partners call on employers to enable workers to vote

As the leadership of organised business, labour, community and government at the National Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) we call upon all employers to support and allow their employees to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections on May 29, 2024.

On April 27^th 2024 we collectively celebrated 30 years since the achievement of our constitutional democracy. A month later, South Africans will be heading to the polls in our 7^th democratic elections.

The social partners at Nedlac believe that it is important to enable all voters to exercise their fundamental constitutional right to participate in the election and cast their votes.

While election day is a public holiday, there are still workers who are required to work on this day including in essential services and the retail and agricultural sectors. Our democracy is only sustainable if every registered voter is allowed to vote on election day.

Firstly, we encourage all employers to observe election day as a paid public holiday and, where possible, give workers the day off. This will enable all eligible workers to cast their votes and reduce pressure on voting stations as people rush to vote at night. It will also avoid voters being at risk of crime at night.

Secondly, for those employers providing an essential service and/or needing to be at work on election day, we request they provide adequate time to facilitate for their staff to go to their voting stations, e.g. to have different shifts with staff working only half day so they have enough time to travel to their stations and queue.

Thirdly, for workers where this may not be practically possible and where it is absolutely essential for them to be at work or on the road far from home, we encourage those workers to go to their nearest Independent Electoral Commission office at their municipality to register for a special vote.

Registration for special votes closes on Friday 3 May.

Voters can register for a special vote by:

· Using the IEC's online application form at:

· SMSing your Identity Number to 32249

· Or visiting the IEC at your local municipal office.

As the collective leadership of organised business, labour, community and government, we commit to supporting the important work of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

We are determined as the leadership of social partners and government to help nourish and honour our proud history as a nation of holding elections whose integrity is beyond reproach. We pledge to do all we can to help contribute to free, fair and credible elections.

Ends

Issued by Overall Convenors: Kaizer Moyane (Organised Business); Gerald Thwala (Organised Labour); Thulani Tshefuta (Organised Community); Thembinkosi Mkalipi (Government) and Nedlac Executive Director Lisa Seftel

Media Enquiries and interview requests can be directed to Farhana Ismail, [email protected] /0827876987 (on behalf of Nedlac)