Cape Town - The home affairs portfolio committee has given the National Assembly the green light to recommend the re-appointment of Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) chairperson Glen Mashinini as a commissioner.
This comes after the committee considered the report of the panel chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, which submitted eight names for consideration, including Mashinini, for the vacancy of a commissioner at the electoral body.
Mashinini’s seven-year term came to an end in April, the expiration of which led to the nomination of candidates to fill the position.
Twelve candidates were shortlisted, but three withdrew their applications, so just nine candidates were interviewed.
The committee on Tuesday heard that Mashinini had been nominated to fill the vacancy at their last meeting, but opposition parties requested more time to consult with their caucuses
ANC MP Brandon Pillay said he was proposing Mashinini, as he did at the last meeting.
“I further wish to nominate Mr Mashinini based on his experience, especially now that (we) go into the process of (the) Electoral Amendment Bill, and have to make lots of changes. I don’t think that it would be prudent, in fact, for us to look at something else,” Pillay said.
He also said it was important that they noted Mashinini’s contribution and experience.
DA MP Angel Khanyile said her party rejected the nomination of Mashinini and put forward the name of advocate Geraldine Chaplog-Louw.
“We note the nomination of Mashinini, however we strongly feel the previous elections were not held in a satisfactory manner,” Khanyile said.
She said Chaplog-Louw was currently the IEC’s chief audit executive and has served the commission in various roles for a period spanning 15 to 20 years.
But, the ANC said it reaffirmed its recommendation that Mashinini continue, noting that he had proved himself and delivered free and fair elections.
The EFF’s Lorato Tito said her party was abstaining on their preferred candidate to take up the vacant position of a commissioner.
After the counting of votes, Mashinini secured six votes and Chaplog-Louw two, with the EFF abstaining.
Committee chairperson Mosa Chabane said they would recommend Mashinini.
“We must submit a report with the recommendation to the National Assembly for consideration,” Chabane said.
He also said they appreciated the work done by Zondo and his team to interview the candidates.
“We are taking all as credible candidates that have different skills in terms of the work of election and governance. We highly regard these eight members of society, who have passed the process of the chief justice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the committee approved the desirability of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which provides for independent candidates to stand for election in the National Assembly and provincial legislature.
The committee requested an extension in the Constitutional Court via Parliament to process the bill beyond the June deadline.
The court gave the national legislature 24 months to fix the constitutional defects in the Electoral Act in order to allow independents to contest seats in Parliament and provincial legislatures.
Both the ANC and the DA supported the motion of desirability, saying the bill should be put through the legislative process to meet the constitutional requirements of the Constitutional Court judgment.
Cape Times