Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) Train the Facilitator (TtF)

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), as an Election Management Body (EMB), in its ongoing commitment to its vision of being a leading authority in electoral democracy, has collaborated with BRIDGE – an internationally recognised institution, to deliver a high-impact training programme. This programme aims to build capacity and enhance the quality of elections by professionalising electoral administration through the development of its permanent staff nationwide.

In his opening remarks on 1 September 2025, IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Sy Mamabolo, emphasised the importance of providing accurate information to political parties and all stakeholders, ensuring a robust recruitment and training process, and consistently delivering high-quality electoral events. In support of these objectives, a ten (10) day BRIDGE Train the Facilitator (TtF) workshop was organised to equip IEC trainers with the skills needed to achieve these goals. The TtF is an intensive, face-to-face programme designed to prepare future facilitators with impactful and effective training techniques. From 1 to 12 September 2025, 18 participants from various IEC spheres attended the workshop as part of ongoing skills development and enhancement. The programme focused on transforming existing training methods into a catalyst facilitation approach to strengthen professional electoral administration across all IEC voting stations.

Two internationally accredited BRIDGE facilitators, Dr. M. Masuluke and Ms. T. Dlamini, delivered the programme with passion, creating a safe space for adult learning while extracting the hidden skills of each participant. They were joined by Ms. Hermia Damons, an IEC employee from the Western Cape, who participated as a Workshop Facilitator. In addition to delivering an impactful workshop, the facilitators highlighted the opportunity for participants to pursue accreditation as BRIDGE facilitators, subject to interest, approval, and thorough screening by the BRIDGE partners.

Participants progressively observed their individual and collective facilitation skills being sharpened and enhanced through challenging sessions, often uncovering strengths they had not realised they possessed. Daily debriefings and circle coaching were key in motivating them to approach each new day with enthusiasm and a commitment to improve. To further support those seeking to refine their facilitation skills, the BRIDGE facilitators extended their service beyond the TtF content by offering optional personal feedback session.

With the insights gained from the intensive 10-days BRIDGE workshop, the participants are now fully equipped to deliver impactful LGE2026 training programmes with enhanced professional skills and confidence.

Authored by Precious Mavuso