Media Advisory: The Leader of the South African Observer Mission to visit Goma and Bhunju Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Kinshasa - The leader of the South African Observer Mission (SAOM), Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George, will visit Goma (eastern DRC) and Bhunju Mayi (central DRC) on Wednesday, 26 July and Thursday, 27 July 2006 respectively to assess the state of readiness for the July 30 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Deputy Minister Mluleki George's visit will provide SAOM with an opportunity to get first-hand information on the security situation and logistical arrangements for the forthcoming DRC elections. In this regard, the leader of the SAOM will, amongst others, have consultations with the Regional Commissioners of Police and Regional Commanders of the Armed Forces for a briefing on the security situation in the run up to the elections and beyond. Deputy Minister Mluleki George is currently leading the SAOM to the DRC. The SAOM is stationed in the DRC until 4 August 2006 to observe all phases of the elections, including election campaigns, the voting process and the counting of votes. They are deployed in twenty four (24) designated result centres out of a total of sixty four (64) in all the eleven (11) provinces. Ends

Enquiries:

Vincent Hlongwane on +27 82 385 1169
Sam Mkhwanazi on +27 83 628 0858
Lindo Nkomonde on +27 82 875 9631

Issued by the South African Observer Mission

c/o South African Embassy in the DRC
77 Ngongo Lutete Avenue
Gombe, Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo

25 July 2006