Parties oppose ‘political’ IEC appointment
VUMA Mashinini’s appointment as the new Electoral Commission of SQA (IEC) chairman has divided political parties, who yesterday called for greater gender balance in the commission, which is made up of men.
MPs engaged in a heated debate during the consideration of Mashinini’s appointment by the National Assembly, with all parties, except the ANC, making declarations opposing it.
Mashinini replaces Pansy Tlakula, who resigned last year after a lengthy battle to clear her name over a leasing deal gone wrong.
Using its majority in the House, the ANC managed to get the appointment through Parliament with 223 voting in favour, 127 voting against and two abstentions.
ANC chief whip Stone Sizani said: “The majority must prevail; it’s a democratic process.”
The first to object to the appointment was the EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
“The matter must go back to the committee because of the recent developments in the IEC which have meant that there are no longer women representatives,” said Ndlozi.
The DA opposed the appointment of the man it called a known ally and personal adviser to President Jacob Zuma. “The ANC used its majority to bulldoze Mashinini’s candidacy through. Mashinini’s close relationship with the president presents a conflict of interest that renders him unsuitable to hold office at a Chapter 9 institution charged with the carrying out of free and fair elections and remaining politically independent,” said the DA’s Haniff Hoosen.
Hoosen also noted how the entire IEC board was made up of men. EFF MP Hlengiwe Maxon also focused on gender. “This is a political appointment. Our ideology is clear on gender issues. The former IEC (chairperson) was a woman and can’t be replaced by a man. The only remaining woman commissioner, (Raenette) Taljaard, has resigned from the IEC. It must tell you something is wrong in the IEC,” said Maxon.
IFP MP Sibongile Nkomo said Mashinini had a “beautiful” CV but was not a suitable candidate.
“It needs to be a person who is nonpartisan. It is also worrying that the issue of gender component was not expressed in a way that we are all comfortable with,” said Nkomo.
Cope’s Deidre Carter said her party could not support the appointment of Zuma’s personal adviser.