Contractor distances itself from biometric device failures in South African elections

Johannesburg-based Ren-Form, which supplied biometric equipment to the South African Electoral Commission (IEC), says it is not responsible for faults reported during the country’s general election in May.

An investigation by News 24 reveals that the IEC paid the company a sum of 546 million rand ($0.29.8 million) to supply 40,000 biometric Voting Management Devices (VMDs), which allegedly caused delays in voting as some of the devices were not working properly. The IEC initially hoped to purchase 60,000 devices but changed its plan due to financial constraints.

The report quotes Ren-Form’s attorney, Tshepo Mathapo, as denying blame for the disruption. The legal representative said the problems at the polling stations had nothing to do with the hardware that was supplied, but rather with the software that was loaded onto the machines. The software vendor used was not named.

The allegations include that the company supplied devices that were defective or substandard, with some issues identified since the devices were first deployed for the 2021 local government elections. Ren-Form is an integrated communications and security printing company that has been delivering election-related contracts for South Africa and many other African countries for many years.

The IEC is quoted as saying it is working on a “detailed assessment” of the technical fault situation and will provide information in due course. A spokesperson for the electoral agency responded to questions about the cost of the devices by saying it “covers delivery, warranties, device servicing and maintenance for a period of five years.” The IEC reportedly paid R13,650 ($746) for the device.

In addition to its operations in South Africa, Ren-Form is also linked to a scandal involving the purchase of election equipment in Zimbabwe, allegations the company vehemently denies.

In the neighbouring South African country, last year’s failure to obtain biometric devices for elections has seen a number of businessmen involved in the fraudulent contract now facing prosecution. They allegedly acted as middlemen in a contract won by Ren-Form, and recent reports suggest they may also have breached money laundering laws.

Ren-Form was accused of supplying biometric registration kits and other election materials at an inflated price. The bill totaled about $40 million.

Mathapo told News 24 that these and other allegations of misconduct against their client were “baseless and false” and that they would be taking legal action against the Zimbabwean media that published the information.

Article Topics

Africa | biometrics | elections | government purchases | Ren-Form | South Africa | voter accreditation