South Africa-donated NEC Toyota Landcruiser. (Photo: Madrama James).
South African Ambassador to South Sudan has donated a Toyota Landcruiser to the National Election Commission (NEC) to facilitate election commissioners’ movement as the country supposedly heads to poll next year.
Ambassador Mahlodi Muofhe said the donation is part of his country’s support to South Sudan’s transition to democracy. He pointed out that the vehicle is necessary to ease mobility challenges and enable speedy preparations for the 2026 elections.
According to Ambassador Mahlodi, collective regional and international support to South Sudan’s first democratic exercise is critical in overcoming the challenges facing the country’s electoral body.
“The donation is for the sole purpose of enabling the Commission to do its work in preparing South Sudan for the much-awaited national elections in 2026,” Mahlodi said, addressing journalists at NEC headquarters on Thursday.
“We hope that through this small gesture or token of good faith, the Commission will be able to do two more steps more than what it used to do before. We hope also that we will always work with the commission from now.”
On his part, Prof. Abednego Akok Kacuol, Chairperson National Elections Commission, urged African partners to assist the commission for smooth conduct of the scheduled general elections.
“We are delighted to receive a gift from our South African ambassador who is here in Juba. Thank you very much for the effort you have done to us. Thank you very much for being the first to give us the offer,” Akok said.
“What we need you now when you leave here, express to our African brothers and sisters that let them come and assist us so that we go to the new phase during the election, 2026, freely, fairly, transparent power peacefully. Thank you very much.”
NEC’s Secretary General Bol Deng Majok said the vehicle will facilitate the movement of his colleagues in the upcoming civic and voter’s education exercise
“This donation has come at a critical time when the National Election Commission is about to launch voter registrations and civic education,” Majok said.
“For this reason, we are grateful to the people of South Africa for their support. This vehicle will strengthen our operation capacity because in the next few weeks, the National Election Commission is going to launch important exercise, civic education and voter registration.”
“The vehicle will enable our national and state officials to travel across the countries to sensitize our citizens about the importance of elections.”
South Sudan postponed its scheduled elections, originally planned for December 2024, by another 24 months, pushing the election to 2026.
The Presidency cited that some critical tasks in the 2028 revitalized peace agreement remained unimplemented by the parties to the agreement.
Support Eye Radio, the first independent radio broadcaster of news, information & entertainment in South Sudan.
Make a monthly or a one off contribution.
Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. Eye Radio is a product of Eye Media Limited.