Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has emphasized the need for the media to accurately report on the South African elections scheduled for May 29.
Uhuru who heads the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) is in South Africa with his team where he held several meetings in Johannesburg as part of the preparations for the upcoming polls.
A statement dispatched by his office said he met with representatives from the South African Council of Churches and emphasised the crucial role that faith-based organisations play in promoting peaceful and credible elections.
The statement said the former President also met with Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), a well-known organisation that promotes ethical journalism and ensures balanced and impartial media coverage during elections.
“President (Rtd) Uhuru Kenyatta emphasised the importance of the media's role during elections and the need for accurate reporting throughout the election period,” the statement reads.
His office said Uhuru also met with South Africa's Minister of Home Affairs, Tawanda Chimni.
It said the strategic meetings highlight a comprehensive approach to election observation, involving religious organisations, media watchdogs, and government officials.
“These efforts underscore the African Union's commitment to supporting member states in upholding democratic principles and promoting stability across the continent,” the statement said.
Earlier, Uhuru said as a neutral entity, the AUEOM does not have predetermined outcomes of the General Election.
“We are here to observe the people of South Africa exercise their democratic rights. We have no preconceived outcomes or anything, we just want to see the people of South Africa have an opportunity to exercise their democratic right and express their will and for us to ensure that that has happened in a free, fair and transparent way as possible,” Uhuru said.
Monday’s meeting adds to a series of other high-level meetings Uhuru presided over on Sunday to assess the country's preparedness for the upcoming General Elections.
He met with the Commissioners of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, led by Chairman Mosotho Moepya, at the Gallagher Convention Centre.
“During the meeting, the commissioners provided a comprehensive briefing on the commission's preparedness. They discussed measures put in place to ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible election process,” Uhuru’s office said in a statement.
He also met with Nelson Muffuh, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in South Africa, as well as representatives from the National Observer Group.
His office said the AUEOM aims to support and enhance the credibility of the electoral process, reinforce democratic principles and foster a peaceful and fair election environment.
South Africans will go to the polls on Wednesday to elect a new National Assembly and state legislatures, the country’s seventh democratic general election since the end of apartheid in 1994.
The ruling ANC will be facing its toughest election after 30 years of dominance, needing 50 per cent of the National Assembly to maintain its parliamentary majority.
Election Day has been declared a public holiday to facilitate voting across 23,292 polling stations.
South Africa’s electoral agency IEC indicates that 27.79 million South Africans aged 18 and above registered to cast their ballots in this year’s elections compared to 26.74 million in 2019.