IEC’S CREDIBILITY, INDEPENDENCE PLACED IN DOUBT

THE Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has been rightly accused of reopening the candidate registration process to favour the ANC, an allegation which does not bode well for its independence.

IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini has rejected claims it gave a lifeline to the ANC, which missed the previous deadline, saying it was “reasonably necessary” to amend the timetable.

He announced September 18 and 19 as the new voter registration weekend after the Constitutional Court dismissed its application to postpone the local government elections.

Echoing Mashinini's sentiments, vice-chairperson Janet Love said the IEC could only act on the basis of the court order and within its mandate.

What she says may well be true. But given the circumstances in which the IEC's decision was taken, it raises the suspicion that the IEC favours the ANC. The fact that the governing party withdrew its Electoral Court case to force the reopening of candidate registration days before the Constitutional Court ruling, does not help matters.

However, the interpretation of the Concourt order by the IEC that it means they have to reopen candidate registrations, seems debatable. Is the IEC suggesting that it was legally impossible to reopen voter registrations for first-time voters who missed the deadline, as well as candidate registrations only for first-time voters who wish to stand as candidates?

This reasoning by the IEC raises eyebrows just as its decision to appoint Justice Dikgang Moseneke to make a case for election postponement did.

As we previously said, the IEC appears to have sought Justice Moseneke's endorsement of its predetermined decision to postpone the polls, instead of taking and standing by such a decision.

DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille's disclosure that she received a call from the IEC, before the Moseneke report could be released, asking whether her party would oppose the postponement of the polls, is telling. It also raises questions about whether the IEC is really prepared for the elections.

The Justice Moseneke route, the interpretation of the Concourt ruling and claims the IEC gave the ANC a lifeline cast a dark cloud on the commission's credibility and independence. Such things should not be happening.