Johannesburg – Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) chairwoman Pansy Tlakula should be removed from her position due to misconduct, the Electoral Court ruled on Wednesday.
Judge Lotter Wepener recommended her removal in a written judgment, but emphasised that it was up to the relevant committee of the National Assembly to take further steps.
The application was brought earlier this year by several opposition parties seeking Tlakula’s resignation as chairwoman of the IEC before the May 7 elections.
The matter was postponed, however, until after the general elections to allow the court enough time to make a recommendation.
The United Democratic Movement, the African Christian Democratic Party, the Congress of the People, Agang SA, and the Economic Freedom Fighters wanted Tlakula’s resignation, arguing that her integrity had been compromised.
This followed a report by the Public Protector and a subsequent forensic investigation by the national Treasury into the procurement of the IEC’s Riverside Office Park building in Centurion. At the time, Tlakula was chief electoral officer.
Madonsela found, among other things, Tlakula had a relationship –possibly of a romantic nature — with the then chairman of Parliament’s finance portfolio committee Thaba Mufamadi.
He was a shareholder in Abland, which owns the IEC’s current premises…
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