By BAKANG MOKOTO
3 September 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has today resolved to give members of the committee space and time to reflect and consult on the eight candidates recommended to fill three vacancies that will arise on 4 November 2025 within the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
The committee today considered correspondence from the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa in her capacity as the Chairperson of the panel envisioned in Section 6(3) of the Electoral Commission Act.
The panel, which comprises the Chief Justice, the Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, the Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality and the Public Protector, has, as per 6(4) of the Act, submitted a list of recommended candidates to the committee.
The candidates recommended by the panel are:
Judge MI Madondo
Judge D Pillay
Adv C Chaplog-Louw
Mrs J Pitso
Mr G Abrahams
Mr MS Moepya
Dr RL Martin
Mr NX Nyembezi
The Chairperson of the Committee, Mosa Chabane said the committee was of the view that further consultation would serve to strengthen the process and ensure greater openness and transparency. Chabane said the committee will soon schedule a meeting, where a report with the recommended candidates will be considered.
“The committee is acutely aware of the impending end of the term of the three incumbent commissioners and commits to concluding the process as per the Act.
“The committee also considered its report emanating from the IEC’s 2024 national and provincial elections and made various recommendations aimed at improving the voting experience,” he said.
Chabane further said these recommendations include the need for the IEC to improve queue management systems, reduce waiting time at voting stations, full-scale testing of the voter management devices and other ICT-related systems before elections and to simplify and broaden its communications strategies.
He added that the committee considered correspondence from the IEC regarding the entity’s intention to table amendments to the Electoral Act to clarify the process and timeframes for objections, especially in consideration of the impending 2026 Local Government Elections.
“The committee agreed that it would amend its programme to ensure that it prioritises the amendments to ensure that planning for the local government elections is seamless,” said Chabane.
The Guardian 