Johannesburg - A candidate for position of IEC commissioner was criticised on Thursday for spelling errors in her CV and not acquainting herself with developments at the commission.
“I have underlined eight typographical and spelling errors in your CV,” deputy public protector Kevin Malunga told lawyer Motlatjo Josephine Ralefatane.
“I am raising these because it is very important. If you had forwarded your CV to any other place it would have been put aside.”
Malunga read out the errors to Ralefatane, who bowed her head and rubbed her hands together.
Chairman of the panel, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, asked her what happened at the Electoral Commission of SA(IEC) that resulted in former chairwoman Pansy Tlakula resigning from the commission.
Ralefatane's explanation of the events left Mogoeng dissatisfied.
“Did you read the judgment of the electoral court and know who brought the application?” Mogoeng asked her.
Ralefatane said she browsed through the judgment.
“I am asking all these because you said the Democratic Alliance brought the application, while the DA did not join other opposition parties in that process.
“You also said Tlakula was removed from her position...she wasn't. She resigned.”
Ralefatane apologised to Mogoeng.
“I made an error. It was the parties who called for removal,” she said.
The interviewing panel, sitting in Boksburg, is chaired by Mogoeng and comprises Malunga, chairman of the SA Human Rights Commission Lawrence Mushwana, and chairman of the Commission for Gender Equality, Mfanozelwe Shozi.
A total of 14 candidates were shortlisted for the position of commissioner.
The position of an IEC commissioner became vacant when Tlakula resigned.
President Jacob Zuma would appoint a new IEC chairperson once the position of commissioner had been filled.
The interviews are to be concluded on Thursday night.
Sapa