Moseneke appointed by IEC to probe local elections
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has appointed the former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke to determine whether it will be possible to hold free and fair elections in October.
The IEC announced Moseneke’s appointment as chairperson of the review panel on Thursday afternoon.
Local government elections are set to take place on 27 October.
The commission’s chairperson Glen Mashinini says Moseneke will submit the report in July this year.
“Through this process Justice Moseneke will undertake an urgent review of all the relevant factors which have a bearing on the holding of free, fair and safe elections in October.
“The process will culminate in the submission of a report to the Commission during July to assist the commission in evaluating all factors bearing influence on the possibility of free and fair 2021 local government elections.
“In order to allow the Commission to benefit from the report it needs to be submitted by mid-July at the latest.”
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is among several opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), that have called on the IEC to postpone this year’s elections due to Covid-19.
Moseneke says the work will be important for democracy
“It is with a keen sense of duty to support electoral democracy in our country South Africa, that I have accepted the invitation by the Electoral Commission of South Africa, to lead a review whether the current conditions are conducive or not to the holding of free and fair elections later this year.
“Our constitution provides that every citizen has the right to free, fair and regulated elections for any elected body established in terms of the constitution.”
The commission has appealed to political parties to assist Moseneke in meeting the deliverables within the time constraints available.
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