Cape Town — Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, has confirmed that nine new nominees were submitted to Parliament to serve on an electoral consultation panel after the elections.
The new panel’s job will be to determine whether the country’s voting system is in need of an overhaul, as there have been calls for certain sectors of civil society who have pushed for the inclusion of independent candidates, also for a constituency-based electoral system, EWN reported.
In December, Motsoaledi was ordered by Parliament to reopen the call for nominations to serve on the panel as the portfolio committee was unhappy about the lack of gender diversity. Out of an initial 12-list candidates list, Motsoaledi presented a list of nine names.
The names on the list include former Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson, Pansy Tlakula, former deputy electoral officer, Norman du Plessis, UNISA lecturer, Mmatsie Mooki, and election expert, Tomsie Dlamini, represent the women.
Motsoaledi said the recommended list included consultations with the IEC. Commissioon CEO, Sy Mamabolo, and Western Cape head of elections, Michael Hendrickse were also part of the list.
Former PAC MP, Richard Sizani, former eThekwini municipal manager, Michael Sutcliffe, and elections academic, Albertus Schoeman, complete the nominees’ list. Once endorsed by Parliament, the panel will have one year from the date of this year’s elections to complete their work.
The Minister of Home Affairs submitted a list of nominees for appointment to the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel in terms of the Electoral Amendment Act. This has been referred to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs for consideration and report pic.twitter.com/J3iR9NdRvc
— PMG (@PMG_SA) May 8, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
