Verification/Monitoring Mechanism – 1994

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According to Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council, “Under its expanded mandate in accordance with Security Council resolution 894 (1994), UNOMSA continued its activities relating to peace promotion and the reduction of violence. Under the direction of the Mission’s Peace Promotion Division, observers continued to assist and cooperate with the National Peace Accord structures. As the electoral period progressed, the Division expanded its network of contacts to include the Monitoring Directorate of the IEC”. According to the report, “observersÕ activities expanded to include observing and reporting on voter education, issuance of temporary voter’s cards, and on IEC attempts to select sites for and establish voting and counting stations.”1

Under the extended mandate, the UMOMSA had the following mandate in relations to observation of the electoral process:

(a) Observe the actions of the Independent Electoral Commission and its organs in all aspects and stages of the electoral process, verifying their compatibility with the conduct of a free and fair election under the Independent Electoral Commission and Electoral Acts;

(b) Observe the extent of freedom of organization, movement, assembly and expression during the electoral campaign and ascertain the adequacy of the measures taken to ensure that political parties and alliances enjoy those freedoms without hindrance or intimidation;

(c) Monitor the compliance of the security forces with the requirements of the relevant laws and the decisions of the Transitional Executive Council;

(d) Verify the satisfactory implementation of the dispositions of the Independent Media Commission and the Independent Broadcasting Authority Acts;

(e) Verify that the voter education efforts of the electoral authorities and other interested parties are sufficient and will result in voters being adequately informed on both the meaning of the vote and its procedural aspects;

(f) Verify that qualified voters are not denied the identification documents or temporary voter’s cards that will allow them to exercise their right to vote;

(g) Verify that voting occurs on election days in an environment free of intimidation and in conditions which ensure free access to voting stations and the secrecy of the vote; and verify that adequate measures have been taken to ensure proper transport and custody of ballots, security of the vote count and timely announcement of results;

(h) Coordinate the activities of observers from international governmental organizations and foreign Governments so as to ensure that they are deployed in an effective and coordinated manner; establish effective cooperation with South African and foreign non-government.

In the process, “UNOMSA officials continued to interact with political parties, attend rallies and other public events, investigate instances of intimidation and related complaints and work closely with the IEC and national, regional and local peace structures.”

UNOMSA carried out its mandate of electoral observation through voter education, which was related to implementation of a voter education campaign, non-partisan voter education, the role of the independent electoral commission, media and voter education, identity documentation, the conduct of the polling, counting leading to the verification of the whole electoral process.2

The UNOMSA mission was terminated on June 27, 1994.

Verification/Monitoring Mechanism – 1993

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In South Africa, the accord called for the creation of three verification bodies: a “Goldstone Commission”, a “National Peace Secretariat”, and the deployment of UN observers to monitor and assist the two bodies in the transition period. Resolution 772 of August 17, 1992, authorized the deployment of United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA) for an initial period of 6 months. It was extended 2 times until July 1994.

The Goldstone Commission, chaired by Justice Richard Goldstone, was appointed to investigate political violence occurring between July 1991 and the April 1994 general elections. Appointed by then president FW de Klerk on 24 October 1991, the commission submitted 47 separate reports. The Commission played a crucial role in stopping political violence surrounding the negotiations. The Goldstone Commission’s “Report on Violence at Mooi River”, demonstrates their use of various methods including public testimony, public hearings, local policing, and the setting up of local dispute resolution committees with members of conflicting societal groups or political parties at the specific location of trouble. The Goldstone Commission identified the South African secret police as the primary agents and provocateurs of violence.

The National Peace Secretariat was an apex organization that stood above the regional and local peace committees (LPCs) and dispute resolution committees. The regional and local committees were required to include local church, business, political and community leaders. They were tasked with reporting violence to be investigated by the Goldstone Commission, and monitoring and reported breaches of the peace accord. The National Peace Secretariat was essentially how the national government was connected to all these commissions.

The Security Council, by its resolution 772 of August 17, 1992, authorized the Secretary General to deploy, as a matter of urgency, United Nations Observers in South Africa. “The council also invited the Secretary General to assist in the strengthening of the structures set up under the National Peace Accord in consultation with the relevant parties: (a) the National peace Committee; (b) the Goldstone Commission; and (c) the National Peace Secretariat (United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa (UNOMSA): Report of the Secretary General.”3 According to the Secretary General’s report, UNOMSA was established in mid-September 1992. By early November 1992, the UN deployed 50 observers and 13 support staff. The mandate of the mission was to carry out its functions in close association with the National Peace Secretariat in order to further the purpose of the Accord. The Duration of the mission was initially estimated to be six months.4

According to the Secretary General’s report to the Security Council on the question of South Africa,5 UNOMSA personnel observed demonstrations, marches and other forms of mass action, noting the conduct of all parties, and endeavored to obtain information indicating the degree to which the partiesÕ actions were consistent with the principles of the National Peace Accords and the Goldstone Commission guidelines for marches and political gatherings.

The UNOMSA presence in South Africa extended until December 31, 1993, and then extended again until July 31, 1994. UNOMSA was more deeply involved in the peace process in South Africa than the initially agreed observer mandate. According to Report of the Secretary General on Financing of the UNOMSA, UNOMSA’s central role in the evolving political process required political negotiations and consultations up to the highest levels.6 Therefore, the Secretary General proposed the creation of a temporary post at the assistant general secretary level for the chief of the UNOMSA.