APPOINTMENT OF MASHININI TO THE IEC
3 February 2015
The Office of the ANC Chief Whip welcomes the appointment of Mr Vuma Glenton Mashinini as Commissioner for the Independent Electoral Commission by the National Assembly today. There is no doubt that Mashinini, who fills the vacancy caused by the resignation of former IEC Commissioner Adv. Pansy Tlakula, possesses suitable professional attributes, experience and qualifications necessary for the post he fills.
His extensive expertise, experience and unique understanding of electoral matters, in particular, make him an asset for this important institution of our constitutional democracy. Mr Mashinini was amongst a collective of experienced professionals who were appointed to assist with the establishment of the IEC following the country's democratic breakthrough. He served on the team that set up an intricate programme management and management systems for the delivery of the 1999 elections and 2000 local government elections in record time, with worldwide acclaimed excellence.
As the then Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Mashinini demonstrated extensive understanding and experience for corporate governance, financial management and supply chain management, thereby enhancing the commission's successive unqualified audit reports during that time.
Even after his departure from the IEC, Mr Mashinini continued to work on electoral matters across Africa, including in countries such as Nigeria, Swaziland, Mozambique and Angola, as part of a specialist electoral management company.
Given the immediate tasks facing the Electoral Commission, particularly the 2016 local government election, it is important that this vacancy is filled by a candidate who is no stranger to electoral issues, would not require extensive induction and will be able to hit the ground running. We are therefore confident that Mashinini's appointment will enhance the electoral commission's continuous delivery of national, provincial and municipal elections that are free, fair and credible.
We dismiss the opportunistic claims by the opposition that because Mr Mashinini has served as a public servant in the Presidency and has previous links to the ANC, he won't be independent. This is nonsensical and hypocritical. The National Assembly previously appointed Ms Raenette Taljaard, former DA activist and MP, and no reservations were made by his former party about her political background.
WE are confident about the expertise and the capability to maintain professional independence of Mr Mashinini just as we were about that of Ms Taljaard. The Electoral Commission has previously appointed individuals with historical links to political parties, but they have always demonstrated professionalism, impartiality and put the interests of the IEC and the people of South Africa first.
Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, March 3 2015
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