According to the commission, the post, which first surfaced on Facebook, claims that the IEC will offer jobs at its offices around the country by 31 January.

The commission rubbished the post, saying it had already recruited its volunteers for today and tomorrow and this process has been concluded.

The commission says its next intake for jobs would only start from next month, ahead of the national elections later this year.

The commission explains it will, from 1 February to 30 April 2019, start recruiting again but warned that each local IEC office is responsible for their own recruitment and will advertise these in the local communities affected as well as media outlets thereof.

Meanwhile, unemployed youth in the country have lambasted the commission on social media after it emerged earlier this week that many of the election staff members that are employed by the IEC at local voting stations, are individuals who already have jobs.

The commission defended itself on its Facebook page, however, saying that it is mindful of South Africa’s scourge with youth unemployment and has committed to make sure that at least 50% of the election staff are unemployed youth.

The electoral body also further clarified that as it stands with this voter’s registration weekend, which kicked off on Saturday 26 January and will end on Sunday, 27 January, over 65% of the 70 000 volunteers that were recruited are currently unemployed and 50% of this number are youth. 

Meanwhile, voting stations across the country will open from 08:00 to 17:00 for registration over these two days.

OFM News