Court seeks full inquiry into Tlakula saga

Chairperson of the IEC Pansy Tlakula File photo: Etienne Creux

Chairperson of the IEC Pansy Tlakula File photo: Etienne Creux

Published Apr 29, 2014

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Johannesburg - The Electoral Court sitting in the High Court in Johannesburg wants a full inquiry into the application calling for IEC chairwoman Pansy Tlakula to resign.

Judge Lotter Wepener on Tuesday told Daniel Berger SC, for Tlakula, the court would give her until 5pm on Thursday to respond to the reports against her.

“The court will give you time to respond and have a full inquiry on Friday,” he said.

“We can even start early. A Friday is a Friday and we have a lot to say.”

After a five minute break for consultation, Berger said he could not accede to the court's demand.

Earlier, Berger argued that Tlakula never had time to respond to two reports opposition parties used as a reference to call for her resignation.

The parties calling for Tlakula's resignation are the United Democratic Movement, the African Christian Democratic Party, the Congress of the People, Agang SA, and the Economic Freedom Fighters.

The application follows a forensic investigation by the Treasury on the procurement of the Electoral Commission of SA's (IEC) Riverside Office Park building in Centurion, Pretoria.

The probe found the process was neither fair, transparent, nor cost-effective. It also found Tlakula did not give guidance or formally inform various people what was expected of them in the process.

Tlakula has maintained she was not accused of corruption in the report.

The Treasury's report followed a recommendation by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in her own report into the matter, released in August 2013.

Berger told the court on Tuesday that Tlakula did not have sufficient time to respond to Madonsela's report.

“It is potentially unfair to expect her to formulate her definitive response... within 24 hours,” he earlier told the court.

He said she was given a day to file her responding affidavit to the court and that was not enough time.

Berger said there was information in Madonsela's final report that Tlakula was not given time to respond to.

The hearing continues.

Sapa

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