Johannesburg - Glenton Vuma Mashinini should not have not been nominated for the job of Electoral Commission of SA commissioner (IEC), the DA said on Tuesday.
“Mashinini is a close ally of President Jacob Zuma and he should never have been nominated for this position in the first place,” the Democratic Alliance said in a statement.
It said the Chapter nine institution needed to be independent and free from undue political influence.
On Tuesday, Parliament's home affairs portfolio committee said it had nominated Mashinini as IEC commissioner.
Mashinini, a special project adviser to Zuma, was interviewed along with 13 other candidates in November last year.
The committee said Mashinini had vast experience within the IEC, and had experience in running elections in various countries in Africa.
"The committee is of the view that his vast institutional memory will ensure that he hits the ground running, especially as the commission is preparing for the 2016 local government elections."
Mashinini was previously IEC deputy chief electoral officer.
The DA said it was important that a suitable and competent commissioner fill the vacancy.
“The DA will do everything in our power to prevent the independence of the IEC, and the constitutional imperative of free and fair elections, from being compromised.”
The commissioner position became vacant following the resignation of chairwoman Pansy Tlakula in September last year.
Several political parties took Tlakula to court ahead of the elections in May last year, claiming her integrity had been compromised.
This followed an investigation by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela into the procurement of the IEC's Riverside Office Park building in Centurion, Pretoria.
Sapa