The New Commissioners Orientation programme effectively started on the 3^rd of June 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa , officially opened by Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Andries Carl Nel. This annual programme planned for 3-5 June 2026  is jointly organized by the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC) and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and hosted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa . The programme is co-funded by the European Union through the Strengthening Pan-African Capacities for Electoral Observation and Assistance (SPEC) project.

The participants of the 13^th NCO comprise 17 newly appointed commissioners from:  Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, Seychelles, and South Africa. The 3-day NCO Programme equips newly appointed commissioners with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools required to effectively manage electoral processes and uphold democratic standards.

Below are the highlights of remarks by various speakers during the opening session of the NCO on 3^rd June 2026.

Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Andries Carl Nel

• The NCO being held at a critical time when South Africa celebrates 30 years anniversary of the adoption of its Constitution under the theme – One Constitution, One Nation , Reflect, Renew .
• The appointment of commissioners comes with immense responsibility and that Electoral Commissioners are not merely administrators of elections, they are custodians of democracy, legitimacy, protectors of constitutional order.
• The SADC region has over the years, made commendable strides in advancing constitutional democracy, political stability and electoral governance.
• In an era characterised by rapid technological change, misinformation, political polarisation and declining trust in institutions globally, EMBs face increasingly complex challenges.
• Shared the Afrobarometer Round 10 survey of May 2026 and results on democracy and elections

ECF SADC Executive Committee Chairperson & Chairperson of IEC RSA Mr Mosotho Moepya

• The primary objective of the orientation is to introduce you to and engage new commissioners with the core mechanics, principles, and emerging best practices of the electoral field. Our goal is to share some of the tried and tested wisdom and skills available in our midst, to discharge your roles with: • Integrity, • Professionalism, • Transparency, and • Accountability
• The primary impetus for the establishment of the Forum was a recognition by Member Commissions of the critical importance of strengthening co-operation amongst themselves, if indeed the ambition of sustainable democratic governance and electoral democracy in particular, was to be achieved in the SADC region”
• One of the greatest strengths of the ECF-SADC is the institutional memory and peer supported structure. The Forum prides itself on utilising former Chairpersons, Commissioners, and senior executives of EMBs as resource persons to drive knowledge development and lend practical expertise to new generations of leadership. In this regard, he appreciated former Chairpersons including: • Adv. Faith Dikeledi Pansy Tlakula, Former Chairperson of the IEC South Africa; • Adv. Notemba Tjipueja, Former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia; and • Justice Chifundo Jairus Kachale, Former Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission.

Regional Head of Programmes, Africa and West Asia, International IDEA Mr Gram Matenga

• International IDEA appreciates;

The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (SADC PF) for its continued partnership and steadfast commitment to strengthening electoral institutions across the region.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa for graciously hosting this year’s programme, and for the leadership it continues to demonstrate in advancing democratic practice in the region.

The African Union and the European Union, whose support through the SPEC Project continues to strengthen electoral institutions and processes across Africa.

• The appointment of new commissioners is a mark of trust. But it is also a summons. As President John F. Kennedy once challenged an earlier generation, we too must “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country”.
• Commissioners are not merely managers of timetables, budgets and polling arrangements. You are custodians of public trust., they are stewards of institutional integrity. Their judgments will shape whether citizens see elections as a peaceful instrument of voice, accountability and legitimacy.
• Across Africa, elections are unfolding in increasingly complex political, social and technological environments. Public expectations are rising. Political competition is often sharper. Misinformation and disinformation travel faster than correction. Security pressures remain real. And digital technologies, social media and artificial intelligence are reshaping how citizens receive information, how institutions communicate, and how confidence can be built or broken.
• Southern Africa continues to offer important lessons to the continent: lessons in constitutionalism, in regional solidarity, in peaceful political competition and transition, and in the patient, difficult work of building institutions that endure.
• Recent elections across the SADC region have shown encouraging growth in professionalism and institutional capacity, even as challenges remain. That is precisely why your leadership matters so much now.