Pretoria - Advocate Pansy Tlakula on Tuesday tendered her resignation as the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Tlakula made headlines ahead of the elections after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found her “guilty of gross maladministration” for the lease agreement of the IEC’s headquarters in Centurion.
This prompted five political parties -- the UDM, African Christian Democratic Party, Congress of the People, Agang SA and Economic Freedom Fighters -- to approach the court to get Tlakula removed for allegedly failing to follow due processes in the procurement of the IEC’s premises.
A week before she sent President Zuma a letter requesting special leave in June, the Electoral Court recommended that Tlakula be removed from her post.
The IEC said Tlakula’s resignation opens the way for the Commission to begin closing a particularly challenging and tumultuous period in the Electoral Commission’s history and to move forward as an institution.
“Despite the circumstances of her departure and the final period of her Chairpersonship, we hope that history will show that Adv Tlakula made a significant contribution to deepening electoral democracy both here and outside of South Africa during her long career at the Electoral Commission.
“The Electoral Commission is confident that it has the capability, experience and leadership within the IEC to continue to deliver free, fair and credible elections as the people of South Africa and the world have come to expect and deserve,” said the IEC in a statement.
At a recent meeting between the Electoral Commission and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan, milestones and timelines for the 2016 municipal elections were agreed on and work is well underway to prepare for the local government elections.
“We call on all stakeholders to work with us and support us as we move forward,” the IEC said. – SAnews.gov.za
