New IEC chairperson must tighten up ship

19 October 2022

Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Angel Khanyile MP.

The DA notes the appointment of Mosotho Moepya as Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) after the post was vacant for six months.

We further note that the President has considered our rejection of the reappointment of Glen Mashinini as a Commissioner due to the IEC’s failings under his watch and various challenges in the previous year's elections.

The DA calls on Mr Moepya to get this institution back on track to becoming a pre-eminent leader in electoral democracy as stipulated in its vision statement and to ensure that several issues which emanated from the IEC’s recent report that was raised by the Portfolio Committee are addressed.

These issues include but are not limited to:

Increasing voter turnout;

Strengthen voter education in schools and ensure young people come out to register and vote;

Ensure Voter Management Devices (VMDs) are tested timeously and are functioning properly on the day of registration and the voting day;

Ensure that no voter is left behind, every voter that presents themselves for registration on registration day must be captured accordingly;

All voters must be registered in the correct Voters Districts;

All future elections must be a true reflection of the voters' desired outcome;

Ensure elections are free and fair.

The DA will closely monitor the implementation of these matters raised, in preparation for the 2024 general elections, and hold the IEC to its mission of being an independent body managing free and fair elections, solidifying our democracy.

Issued by Angel Khanyile, DA Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, 19 October 2022