MK’s call for Janet Love's resignation ‘lacks substance’ - IEC
The Independent Electoral Commission has described the call for Commissioner Janet Love's resignation as baseless.
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo responded to the call by uMkhontho weSizwe party for Love to resign due to what they believe to be her bias in favour of the ANC.
The party called for Love's resignation following her remarks, made in January, that former president Jacob Zuma’s criminal record would preclude him from standing as a candidate in the 29 May general elections.
Zuma was subsequently disqualified due to his previous conviction in 2021, in which he was sentenced to more than 12 months’ imprisonment for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission.
He has since successfully appealed the IEC’s decision at the Electoral Court.
However, the commission has subsequently approached the Constitutional Court to seek clarity on the decision.
Mamabolo said the MK party has not submitted any substantive evidence establishing misconduct on Love’s side, adding that she is not required to disclose her political affiliation.
“We don’t know because no one has to disclose their party affiliation. In terms of the Electoral Commission Act, the person who is appointed as a commissioner may not have a high political profile at the point of the appointment.
“The panel, led by the chief justice, has looked at that to check whether the commissioners are qualified in terms of the legal criteria as well as the constitution.
“Parliament did the same, and eventually, the president was appointed on the basis of the recommendation of the multi-party National Assembly. So, as to whether she remains a member of this or the other party is a matter unknown to us, and we shouldn’t really know as long as they satisfy the constitutional and legal criteria.”
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