IEC chair Mosotho Moepya shortlisted for another seven-year term

Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) chairperson Mosotho Moepya has been shortlisted to contest for a second seven-year term ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

A panel chaired by chief justice Mandisa Maya consisting of public protector Kholeka Gcaleka, SA human rights commission (SAHRC) Chris Nissen and commission for gender equality chair Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale on Wednesday published the list of 12 candidates who have been shortlisted for interviews to fill three vacancies for commissioners at the IEC.

The filling of vacancies comes at an important time for the commission as it prepares for local government elections.

The office of the chief justice undertook the process to shortlist candidates because Moepya, judge Dhaya Pillay and Dr Nomsa Masuku’s seven-year terms end in November.

Like Moepya, Pillay was also shortlisted for a second term. According to the law, the commission consists of five members, one of which has to be a judge.

Pillay competes against Mjabuliseni Madondo, the former deputy judge president of the KwaZulu-Natal high court.

Other candidates on the shortlist include former public service commission chairperson advocate Richard Sizani and advocate Geraldene Chaplog-Louw, who worked as the chief audit executive for the commission.

In 2022, Chaplog-Louw was also shortlisted, but did not get the job.

IEC’s election matters general manager Granville Abrahams, CRL rights commission part-time commissioner Dr Rajendran Govender, Robert Luke Martin, Nkosikhulule Nyembezi, Jacqueline Liberty, Joyce Pitso and Sibongile Sigodi have also been shortlisted.

Masuku’s time at the commission comes to an end amid a R1.2m fraud case against her. She was arrested last year and charged with theft, fraud and money-laundering in a case reported by Standard Bank to police 10 years ago. The charges emanate from her tenure as Standard Bank’s head of corporate social investment.

Moepya has faced a challenging tenure as the commission’s chairperson.

He led the commission during a legal battle against former president Jacob Zuma at the Constitutional Court on the eve of the 2024 elections. Zuma challenged the commission’s decision to bar him from contesting for public office. The court ruled in favour of the commission.

Zuma’s MK party continues to attack the credibility of the elections despite breaking a record by attaining more than 2-million votes the first time it contested the elections.

The interviews of the candidates will be held July 21 and 22.

After the interviews the panel will recommend suitable candidates for parliament’s consideration. Thereafter President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce commissioner appointments.

Many in the political arena expect the municipal election to be highly contested as coalitions in metropolitans have faced various upheavals that have left council leadership in limbo.