Transparency concerns delay appointment of new IEC officials

THE appointment of three new commissioners of the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) ahead of next year’s local government elections has been delayed after concerns were raised about the limited publicity surrounding the process.

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

Last month, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya invited nominations to fill the vacancies to be created by the end of the seven-year tenures of IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya, commissioners Judge Dhaya Pillay and Dr Nomsa Masuku later this year.

Moepya, Pillay, and Masuku were appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2018.

The appointment of IEC commissioners is conducted through a panel chaired by Maya and includes Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, as well as representatives of the SA Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Gender Equality, which are all Chapter Nine institutions in terms of the Constitution.

Chief Justice Maya responded to requests by certain organisations and extended the deadline for nominations from May 16 to June 6.

“This will allow interested persons who may not have been aware of the advertisement to submit their nominations by no later than the abovementioned date,” her office indicated.