IEC Sacks Party Activists

The Independent Electoral Commission has axed 47 of its electoral officers after discovering that they are “active” members of political parties.

IEC chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula said yesterday that the 47 were exposed when the commission checked the political party lists against their staff records.

“We had to act to protect our independence,” she said.

She did not disclose to which parties the axed officials were affiliated.

Tlakula said that though IEC staff could vote in the April 22 election, they are not permitted to be active members of a political party.

The government decided this week to give public servants who have been nominated by political parties for Parliament or provincial legislatures a month’s leave for campaigning.

In the past, a public servant whose name appeared on a party list was forced to resign.

Tlakula said the IEC had drawn up a code of conduct for all staff to avoid conflicts of interest.

Because most of the commission’s electoral staff were teachers, or belonged to labour unions affiliated to political parties, the IEC had to decree that no active member of a political party would be allowed to work for the commission during the election period.

‘‘There is no ban on those who belong to labour unions from being IEC presiding officers, as long as they are not active members [of any of the political parties],” Tlakula said.

She also revealed yesterday that about 80000 expatriates had given notice to the IEC of their intention to vote next month.

They are due to vote on April 15, seven days before the general election.

Tlakula said about 40000 of the expatriates who intended to vote were in UK and most of the rest were in New Zealand, Australia and Dubai.

‘‘All the votes from expatriates will be counted together with other votes on April 22.’’

Tlakula said that IEC staff members would vote on April 23 and the election results would be announced within seven days after the elections.