The question of the potential head of the IEC being someone closely associated with the ANC
and the president in particular raises important questions. It is known that the last elections revealed that the ANC fared less well than before and its tenure may be fragile in some places. In this context it is important that the results of elections be beyond reproach and there be no reason to have people doubt the fairness of the officials presiding over elections. It is true that the majority in parliament has the right to use its numbers in making appointments of those whom it supports. But it needs a level of cognisance of the professional requirements for some jobs, the ability of candidates to be seen as adequate custodians of free and fair elections. Steven Friedman makes this case very well.
Raymond Suttner 