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South Africa's IEC has a new chairperson

16 October 2015

Vuma Glenton Mashinini has been appointed the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa.

The position has been vacant since the resignation of Pansy Tlakula in 2014, filled by Terry Tselane in an acting capacity in the interim. The Presidency made the announcement of Mashinini's appointment on 14 October.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found Tlakula "guilty of gross maladministration" for the lease agreement of the IEC's headquarters in Centurion.

Mashinini was appointed as a commissioner of the IEC in April.

He has previously served as a special projects adviser to President Jacob Zuma, as well as deputy chief electoral officer of the IEC from 1998 to 2001. In the latter post he was responsible for the establishment and administration of the national head office, all nine provincial electoral offices and approximately 350 municipal electoral offices.

About Mashinini

Mashinini was born on 22 January 1961 in Joburg. His family emigrated to Australia in 1980, where he studied business and commerce at Curtin University.

Mashinini's political life includes the position of race relations officer at the Curtin University Students Union, according to the SABC. "His work saw him joining the African National Congress (ANC) in Western Australia, where he co-ordinated anti-apartheid campaigns. He also worked for the Campaign Against Racial Exploitation, an Australian anti-apartheid movement."

Zuma wished Mashinini all the best in his new responsibility.

The IEC

The IEC is a permanent body established by the Constitution to promote and safeguard democracy in South Africa. It is a publicly funded body and while it is accountable to Parliament, it is independent of government.

It was established in 1993, has five full-time commissioners, appointed by the president, whose brief is to deliver regular, free and fair elections at all levels of government – national, provincial and local.

In terms of the Electoral Commission Act of 1996, the IEC has to compile and maintain the voters' roll and it is responsible for counting, verifying and declaring the results of an election, which must be done within seven days of the close of the election.

The IEC is also responsible for:

• Compiling and maintaining a register of parties;
• Undertaking and promoting research into electoral matters;
• Developing and promoting the development of electoral expertise and technology in all spheres of government;
• Continuously reviewing electoral laws and proposed electoral laws, and making recommendations; and,
• Promoting voter education.

SouthAfrica.info reporter