Johannesburg - Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele's wife Rebecca Madipoane Gungubele had to defend herself against opposition to her possible appointment as IEC commissioner during interviews on Thursday.
A Democratic Alliance official in the Gauteng legislature had indicated that Gungubele was married to an active politician, and therefore should not be shortlisted for the post, panel chairman Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng told Gungubele.
“I am wondering why that person did not also take a look at my CV,” Gungubele said.
“I do not want to be treated as a person married to a politician. My qualifications speak for themselves... my husband doesn't even know who nominated me for the position,” she said.
Mogoeng asked her if it was possible, as the wife of the mayor of one of the country's biggest metros, that she could be persuaded to ensure her own political party won elections.
“Also bearing in mind that your husband, as a former parliamentarian and now mayor, was not catapulted to the position and had to pull a strong political muscle to get there. Is it possible that you would ensure victory for his party and his re-election?”
Gungubele said it was not possible for her to do that.
“I don't see why as a commissioner I would even begin thinking about that,” she said.
“That is not possible... information regarding the IEC is always in the public domain, anyone can access that.”
Gungubele said she had anticipated the question regarding her husband.
“As much as I see myself as an individual, there are people who see me as someone's wife. I should state that I am an independent person.”
The interviewing panel is chaired by Mogoeng and comprises of SA Human Rights Commission chairman Lawrence Mushwana, Commission for Gender Equality chairman Mfanozelwe Shozi, and deputy public protector Kevin Malunga.
A total of 14 candidates were shortlisted for the position of commissioner.
Former Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) chairwoman Pansy Tlakula resigned in September due to irregularities in the procurement of the IEC's offices.
According to Gungubele's letter accepting nomination, posted on www.judiciary.org.za, she has a legal and trade union background, is a non-executive director at Eskom, and a part time commissioner at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. She has been interim head of human resources management at the Ekurhuleni municipality.
Sapa