MOSSEL BAY NEWS - At the age of 31, Ernest Muller was appointed as an IEC officer during South Africa's first democratic election in 1994 - the same year he was allowed to cast his vote for the very first time.

Now, 32 years later, this 63-year-old is the IEC's presiding officer, this time at the Wolwedans Multi-purpose Centre. Having participated in every election since 1994, Muller has witnessed first-hand just how far the country has come.

Over the years, he has served as an IEC officer at three locations in five elections: Delft, Cape Town, in 1994; Eerste River, Cape Town, in 1999; and Wolwedans in 2019, 2024 and now, on 4 November 2026.

"In 1994, I was working for the Department of Education when I heard that IEC officers were needed. I applied because I thought it would be a bit of a holiday," he laughed.

"That day was an experience. The turnout of people was something else. The queue at our station stretched for two kilometres. There weren't any substations at the time, so there was one central voting station for Delft.

"It was amazing. I knew something was going to change, but I don't think I realised the impact it would have until two years later, when all the changes were really coming into place," he said.

"It is a day that will stay with me and that I will always cherish."

Asked why he continues to dedicate his time to serving as an IEC officer, Muller said fairness remains his biggest motivation.

"I keep doing it because I want fairness. I offer my time because all of this is for the community, and the changes they will make with their votes."

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