by Kgothatso Monono
Dr Khuliso Sigama, Academic Manager in the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) under the Department of Computer Science at the Polokwane Campus, recently served as a panel member in a discussion on the future of electronic voting (e-voting) in South Africa.
Dr Khuliso Sigama
The panel explored lessons from international experiences, drawing on success stories of countries such as India, while also reflecting on nations that initially adopted e-voting but later reverted to manual systems. Dr Sigama emphasised that although technology offers opportunities to modernise South Africa’s electoral processes, “everything starts with legislation.” He explained that introducing e-voting would require amendments to existing legal frameworks.
The discussion examined two key models of e-voting systems: poll site voting and internet/online voting. In poll site voting, voters cast their ballots on an offline machine that updates the national database only once voting concludes. Internet voting, on the other hand, allows voters to cast ballots remotely, offering greater convenience and accessibility.
Dr Sigama highlighted that South Africa already shows encouraging signs for e-voting adoption. Many higher education institutions have successfully implemented electronic platforms for student representative council (SRC) elections. “The ground is fertile,” he remarked, noting that younger generations are already familiar with e-voting systems, which could ease the transition at a national level.
However, he cautioned that despite these advantages, South Africa faces significant infrastructural challenges. Unequal network access and recurring power outages present serious risks to the reliability and fairness of an electronic voting system.
The dialogue concluded that while e-voting could enhance efficiency, accessibility and trust in the electoral process, careful planning, legal reform and investment in infrastructure will be essential for success.
Through his contribution, Dr Sigama underscored the Faculty of ICT’s commitment to shaping national conversations on technology-driven solutions that strengthen both democracy and innovation in South Africa.