ANALYSIS: Did the IEC purchase low quality marking pens to cut costs? SAElections2019 | SarahPeace6
On the face of it, the Electoral Commission of SA got a really good deal when it purchased the indelible marking pens for the 2019 elections.
There appears to be no problem with the bidding process at all, or the company who supplied the pens. But there is only one problem: the marking ink rubs off. Ultimately, the tender documents show that there is no way the winning bidder should have been able to supply ink that rubs off. It is seemingly clear that the pens provided to the IEC did not meet these standards, and eyewitness accounts of this abounded on Wednesday.From the documents seen by News24, it is also clear that the IEC would have had to have known about the poor quality of the pens before the election.
There are other reasons why the ink could wash off, he added, such as if it is not properly applied or if the fingers are oily or dirty. He said ideally, officials should wipe the fingers of voters before applying the ink.The winning bidder, who News24 has not named until they have been given an opportunity to comment, quoted R2 683 442 for the contract.
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