The Government of South Africa has donated a vehicle to the South Sudan National Elections Commission (NEC).
The donation, made through the embassy in Juba on Thursday, is aimed at easing the activities of the commission.
Addressing reporters during the handover ceremony of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado at the NEC headquarters in Juba, South Africa envoy to South Sudan Mahlodi Muofhe, said NEC would be able to take more steps towards the preparations for the polls than before the donation.
“It gives me so much pleasure as Ambassador to South Sudan to donate a Toyota Prado from the Government of South Africa to the National Election Commission, for the sole purpose of enabling the commission to do its work in preparing for the much awaited national elections in 2026,” he said
“We hope that through this token of good faith, the commission will be able to do more than it used to do before and we hope also that the commission and we will always work together now,” he added.
Muofhe noted that South Sudanese were calling for elections and urged the country’s leaders to exert more efforts to ensure that democratic elections are held.
“This is such a beautiful country, if only there can be peace and democracy in South Sudan so that institutions are built. The vulnerable people of South Sudan would be able to access critical services they so much need to rebuild their country,” he said.
NEC Chairperson Prof Abednego Akok Kacuol thanked South Africa for the donation.
“Thank you very much for being the first to give us the offer. What we need now is to express to our African brothers and sisters that they can come and assist us so that we go to the new phase of running the election,” he said.
NEC Secretary General Bol Deng Majok said the donation comes at a critical time when the agency is preparing to launch civic and voter education to sensitize the citizens.
“We are grateful for your support because this will strengthen our operational capacity and mobility across the country. More importantly, this generosity is a true testament to our mutual and bilateral cooperation and our enduring historical friendship,” he said.