The current Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Mosotho Moepya said since he joined the IEC in 1998, he believes his experience spanning over 18 years must come as a motivation to appoint him to return as the commissioner.
Moepya said they have contributed immensely to the formation of the political party funding and conducts by-elections almost by-weekly unlike before.
He was responding to questions from a panel during the interview for three Electoral Commission Commissioner vacancies held in Midrand.
The interviewing panel, chaired by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, began its first leg of interviews for 11 candidates including Moepya who is amongst the shortlisted candidates to fill three vacancies for commissioners at the IEC.
Independent electoral analyst Michael Atkins told YOU FM Newshour that the commission is looking to appoint new commissioners to lead the institution before the current term lapses in November.
“The commission has five commissioners like Directors of a company, who must steer the direction and make sure the IEC functions correctly.
They are appointed for a renewable seven-year term, but they still must go through full interview processes as though they are the first-time applicants.
There are three current commissioners who were appointed in November 2018, and their term ends in November 2025.
It is also important to note that two of the three of the commissioners are available for reappointment which are the Moepya and Judge Dhaya Pillay,” explained Atkins.
He highlighted that the interviews are crucial as the country prepares a countdown to the much talked about local government elections in 2026.
“When elections are conducted smoothly without any hiccups nobody notices and people turn to ignore the IEC.
But if there are problems, or very close election results or contested election results, having people in those positions of highest integrity and of complete independence is very essential when there are problems.
So normally people don’t think about it,” explained Atkins.
He acknowledged that the IEC had few glitches during the previous National and Provincial elections.
“From the slow queues to the claims of election rigging and it was essential that we have confidence that those people who are appointed are very independent minded and may put the duty to the country ahead of any of their own personal interests,” remarked the analyst.
Atkins said that the process of the appointment of IEC commissioners is different from the appointment of Judges to various courts across the country.
He highlighted that although elections often involve politics and political parties, they are not involved in any way in the selection and appointment of commissioners.
“They are not involved at all in the pre-selection or evaluation phases that we are in now, unlike as you say with Judges because there are parliamentarians who are politicians serving in the Judicial Service Commission.
So, there’s no political questioning happening at this stage.
What is happening is getting the candidate’s experience, background of each candidate and their ideas about what is necessary for the IEC,” said Atkins.
The first leg of the interviews begun with the retired KwaZulu-Natal former Deputy Judge President Mjabuliseni Madondo and concluded with Moepya.
The panel is expected to continue with the second day of the Interview on Tuesday morning.
