conflict management mediation panels | Innovations for Successful Societies

In this interview, Reverend Gift Moerane shares his experiences serving on the South African Electoral Commission’s Conflict Management Mediation Panels since 1999. He describes the conflicts that plagued the pre-election period in 1999, including the contestation of control of areas by various political parties, or “no-go” zones. He discusses the role that political party loyalties played in causing electoral disorder, and the effects of apartheid on these loyalties. Furthermore, he notes the role the police forces played in electoral mediation and talks about the relationship between mediation and policing. He explains the importance of the training and recruitment of mediators. Finally, he discusses the usage of the country’s electoral codes in deterring conflict escalation.

Transcript

ZA7 SA Elections Jackson Moerane_Final.pdf

ZA7 SA Elections Jackson Moerane_Final.txt

Profile

At the time of this interview, Reverend Gift Moerane was a member of the South African National Peace Accord, spokesperson for the South African Council of Churches. He served as a member of the Electoral Commission’s Conflict Management Mediation Panels since 1999. He was born in the Vaal Triangle in the Meyerton Township. He completed teacher training at the College of Education in Groblersdal. In 1984, after working as a clerk for the Meyerton municipality, he started working for the Council of Churches, assisting families of detainees and political prisoners.

Using Conflict Management Panels to Resolve Tension in the Second Post-Apartheid Election: South Africa, 1999-2000

Read more about Using Conflict Management Panels to Resolve Tension in the Second Post-Apartheid Election: South Africa, 1999-2000

Type

Case Studies

Author

Rachel Jackson

Keywords

conflict management

conflict management mediation panels

South Africa

Independent Electoral Commission

IEC

Electoral Institute of Southern Africa

Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa

EISA

political party liaison committees

Focus Area(s)

Reducing Divisive Effects of Competition

Critical Tasks

Core Challenge

Dispute resolution (compliance)

Country of Reform

South Africa

Full Publication

RJ_EL_South Africa_Elections TOU_1.pdf

RL EL South Africa ToU.txt

Abstract

In 1994, South Africa's interim electoral commission accomplished a seemingly impossible task: navigating myriad technical and political challenges to hold the country's first post-apartheid election. Although the election ushered in a largely peaceful transition to majority rule, the months that preceded it had been plagued by political tension and violence. As the new and permanent Independent Electoral Commission prepared for the country's second national election, in 1999, it had to contend with the potential for renewed conflict and the weakening of many of the civil society organizations and peace structures the country had relied on in 1994. As part of a broader strategy, the electoral commission created conflict management mediation panels. Working with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, the commission deployed respected community figures within each province's political hot spots as a way to resolve tensions on the ground. In 2000, for the local government elections, the commission extended the conflict mediation system into the country's 284 municipalities.

Rachel Jackson drafted this case study based on interviews conducted in South Africa, in March 2013. Case published July 2013. For a detailed look at South Africa's first post-apartheid election, in 1994, see "Organizing the First Post-Apartheid Elections, South Africa, 1994."