WATCH: EFF repeats call for IEC not to employ Sadtu members as election monitors

The call was made by the party’s Treasurer General Omphile Maotwe during the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct in Midrand on Thursday morning.

The party has committed to comply with the code of conduct and take action against its own members who undermine the election process.

But Maotwe warned the IEC to avoid using SADTU members to safeguard elections. 

"Sadtu issued a communication to all its affiliated members pronouncing that the union is supporting the ANC.

“Now there is a person who is a Sadtu member, or a trade union that is affiliated with the ANC, campaigning for the ANC on a daily basis coming to preside over the elections.

“How does that make the elections free and fair?

“It is not the IEC that must declare the elections free and fair, it is us the citizens and we are saying to IEC, you are making it difficult for us to declare the elections free and fair.

“We want people that are impartial and not biased towards any political party," said Maotwe.

The Independent Electoral Commission had previously denied claims that it hired teachers as presiding officers to the exclusion of other candidates.

The commission said it recruits staff against specific criteria that are developed jointly with the national party liaison committee.

All parties represented in Parliament have representation on that committee, and they have an input on the criteria, the IEC explained.