Interviews to fill three vacancies in the Electoral Commission (IEC) will take place over the next two days.

Eleven candidates, including the current chair of the IEC, Mosotho Moepya, Judge Diya Pillay and Judge Mjabuliseni Madondo, have been shortlisted.

A panel chaired by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and comprising the Public Protector and Chairpersons for the Commissions for Gender Equality and Human Rights will conduct the interviews.

The President appoints members of the Commission for a term of seven years, with one of the vacant positions having to be filled by a Judge of the High Court.

Parliamentary Engagement and Research Manager for Undoing Tax Abuse, Rachel Fischer, says the role of an IEC Commissioner is crucial to running democratic elections.

“The focus really gets turned onto the IEC commissioners once the elections occur. Whether these are the national and provincial elections or the local government elections that are taking place next year. They need to manage the national, provincial and municipal elections and to make sure that elections are free and fair.”

“They must declare the results, they must look into the education and awareness activities to inform the public before such elections. They even need to manage political party funding, the register, the declarations, etc. So overall it’s to oversee and direct electoral operations,” she says.

VIDEO | Electoral Commission and Parliament urged to appoint commissioners: