A panel led by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya has recommended eight candidates to fill three upcoming vacancies at the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
The terms of the current chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, and commissioners Judge Dhaya Pillay and Rev. Bongani Finca will end on November 4th. In response, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza asked the Chief Justice to begin the process of finding their replacements.
The selection panel, which also includes the heads of the Human Rights Commission, the Commission for Gender Equality, and the Public Protector, interviewed ten candidates on July 21st and 22nd. They unanimously agreed on a list of eight nominees to send to the National Assembly.
The recommended candidates are:
– Mosotho Moepya (current chairperson)
– Judge Dhaya Pillay (current commissioner)
– Judge Mjabuliseni Madondo
– Advocate Geraldene Chaplog-Louw
– Joyce Pitso
– Granville Abraham
– Robert Martin
– Nkosikhulule Nyembezi
According to the Electoral Commission Act, at least one of the five commissioners must be a judge. The National Assembly will now consider the panel’s recommendations before making the final appointments.