The year 2014 is upon us and political parties are campaigning all over the country ahead of the May elections. The 2014 poll promises to be a different and highly contested one with the emergence of new political parties including Economic Freedom Fighters and Agang in 2013.The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has an enormous task ahead in regulating the elections. The regulatory body suffered a few blows in 2013 with its credibility being questioned. Its ability to remain independent came in to question during the Tlokwe Municipal Elections.
The axe fell on Mapetle again in July 2013 and Democratic Alliance councillor Annette Combrink was elected the new mayor.
When Democratic Alliance and African National Congress councillors unseated Tlokwe Municipality Mayor Mapetle Matlepe in September 2012 little did they anticipate the battle that was to ensue in 2013. The axe fell on Mapetle again in July 2013 and Democratic Alliance councillor Annette Combrink was elected the new mayor.The route to the elections saw six independent candidates going to the Bloemfontein High Court with allegations that the IEC unfairly disqualified them in an attempt to seal a victory for the African National Congress. The court ruled that the candidates were severely prejudiced and that this would have resulted in the elections being unfair. Allegations of vote rigging also surfaced after the elections.
The commission came in to the spotlight again when Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released a report on an investigation into allegations of maladministration and the procurement of the IEC Riverside Office Park offices. IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula responded with guns blazing on the allegations that there was an undisclosed conflict of interest between her and businessperson Thaba Mufamadi. Whether or not the IEC will redeem tainted image remains to be seen.
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– By Lerato Matlala
