IEC chief electoral officer bows out

CHIEF electoral officer Mosotho Moepya’s ter m at the Independent Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) ended yesterday after he chose not to renew his contract, the IEC said.

His deputy, Sy Mamabolo, would take over until a replacement was found, it said.

“Mr Moepya has been with the electoral commission for more than 18 years and served with distinction as chief electoral officer for the past five years, overseeing both the 2014 national and provincial elections and the recent 2016 municipal elections,” the IEC said.

“The commission wishes Mr Moepya well in his future endeavours and would like to express the gratitude for his many years of service, professional- ism and dedication to the institution and to deepening electoral democracy both in South Africa and beyond our country’s borders, through various bilateral and multilateral forums.”

Moepya was appointed to the position in 2012 after it became vacant when Pansy Tlakula left.

Moepya joined the IEC in 1998 as electoral logistics manager after a nine-year stint in the private sector.

He was promoted to the position of senior manager of electoral logistics in 1999 and was appointed deputy chief executive officer in 2001.

Moepya also represented the IEC on the African continent and abroad on observer missions and delivered papers at conferences in Europe, Australia and Asia.