Mr Speaker, Mr President, Mr Deputy President and hon members, it gives me immense pleasure to present to you, for your approval, the report of the ad hoc committee to nominate persons for appointment by the President of the Republic as electoral commissioners in terms of the Electoral Commission Act, Act No 51 of 1996.
This highly important task for the continued consolidation of our democracy was made easy by the work done by a panel consisting of the Chief Justice of South Africa, serving as chairperson; the chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission; the acting chairperson of the Commission on Gender Equality and the Public Protector.
The panel conducted interviews with 17 of 69 candidates nominated by interested South Africans and organisations, to determine their suitability for appointment as electoral commissioners. This made it unnecessary for the ad hoc committee to conduct further interviews with the candidates which the panel forwarded to Parliament for consideration.
The panel presented Parliament with the names of 10 candidates from which Parliament had to select 4 persons who the President could use to fill the vacant posts in the Electoral Commission. The panel made it clear in its report that, in terms of their qualifications, expertise and work experience, all 10 candidates were eminently suitable for appointment.
Speaker, I am happy to report that, after giving all parties the opportunity to apply their minds to the question of who they believed to be the most suitable candidates for recommendation for appointment, the ad hoc committee came to a unanimous decision.
On the basis of factors such as the need for the retention of experience, expertise and continuity, as well as considerations of racial and gender equity, we resolved to commend to this House Advocate Pansy Tlakula, Mr Terry Ismael Tselane, Reverend Bongani Blessings Finca and Ms Raenette Taljaard for appointment by the President as electoral commissioners.
We are grateful to the Chief Justice and his fellow panelists for the efficient and professional manner in which they did their work. We are equally grateful to all 69 candidates who made themselves available for national service. With such committed patriots, our democracy is in safe hands.
We are also enormously thankful to the outgoing commissioners for the sterling work they have done during their term of office, earning themselves accolades the world over as deliverers of impeccable electoral democracy to our land. We are confident that their successors will follow in their footsteps to continue making us the envy of other nations.
On behalf of the ad hoc committee, which made its determination by working as a collective, I commend the report to you. Thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Question put: That the nominations of Advocate P Tlakula, Mr T I Tselane, Rev B B Finca and Ms R Taljaard for appointment as electoral commissioners be approved.
AYES - 300: Adams, L H; Adams, P E; Ainslie, A R; Alberts, A D; Bam- Mugwanya, V; Bapela, K O; Bhengu, F; Bhengu, P; Bikani, F C; Bogopane- Zulu, H I; Booi, M S; Boshigo, D F; Bosman, L L; Botha, T; Burgess, C V; Carrim, Y I; Carter, D ; Cebekhulu, R N; Cele, M A ; Chikunga, L S; Chiloane, T D; Chohan, F I ; Coetzee, T W; Cronin, J P; Cwele, S C; Dambuza, B N; Daniels, P N; Davidson, I O; Davies, R H; De Freitas, M S F; De Lange, J H; Diale, L N; Diemu, B C; Dlakude, D E; Dlamini, B O; Dlamini-Zuma, N C; Dlodlo, A; Dreyer, A M; Du Toit, N D; Dubazana, Z S; Dube, M C; Dudley, C; Duma, N M; Duncan, P C; Dunjwa, M L; Ebrahim, E I; Farrow, S B; Figlan, A M; Fihla, N B; Frolick, C T; Fubbs, J L; Gaehler, L B; Gaum, A H; Gcwabaza, N E; Gelderblom, J P; George, M E; Gigaba, K M N; Gina, N; Godi, N T; Gololo, C L; Goqwana, M B; Hajaig, F; Hanekom, D A; Harris, T D; Hill-Lewis, G G; Holomisa, S P; Huang, S-B; Jacobus, L; James, W G; Jeffery, J H; Joemat-Pettersson, T M; Johnson, M; Kalyan, S V; Kenye, T E; Kganare, D A; Kganyago, N M; Khoarai, L P; Khumalo, F E; Kloppers-Lourens, J C; Kohler-Barnard, D; Koornhof, G W; Kopane , S P; Kotsi , C M P; Kubayi, M T; Landers, L T; Lebenya-Ntanzi, S P; Lee, T D; Lekgetho, G; Lekota, M G P; Line, H; Lishivha, T E; Lorimer, J R B; Lotriet, A; Lovemore, A T; Lucas, E J; Luyenge, Z; Maake, J J; Mabasa, X; Mabedla, N R; Mabudafhasi, T R; Mabuza, M C; MacKenzie, G P D; Madlala, N M; Madlopha, C Q; Mafolo, M V; Magagula, V V; Magama, H T; Magau, K R; Magubane, E; Magwanishe, G; Makasi, X C; Makhuba, H N; Makhubela-Mashele, L S; Makhubele, Z S; Malale, M I; Malgas, H H; Maluleke, J M; Manana, M C; Manganye, J; Mangena, M S; Manuel, T A; Mapisa-Nqakula, N N; Marais, E J; Masango, S J; Maserumule, F T; Mashatile, S P; Mashiane, L M; Mashigo, R M; Mashishi, A C; Masilo, J M; Masutha, T M; Mathebe, D H; Mathebe, P M; Mathibela, N F; Matlanyane, H F; Matshoba, J M; Maunye, M M; Mavunda, D W; Max, L; Mazibuko, L D; Maziya, M; Mbalula, F A; Mbili, M E; McIntosh, G B D; Mdaka, N M; Mdakane, M R; Meshoe, K R J; Mgabadeli, H C; Michael, N W A; Mjobo, L N; Mkhulusi, N N P; Mlambo, E M; Mlangeni, A; Mmusi, S G; Mnisi, N A; Mnqasela, M; Mocumi, P A; Mohale, M C; Mohorosi, M M; Mokgalapa, S; Mokoena, A D; Molebatsi, M A; Moloi-Moropa, J C; Moloto, K A; Moni, C M; More, E; Morgan, G R; Moss, L N; Motau, S C; Motlanthe, K P; Motsepe, R M; Motshekga, M S; Motsoaledi, P A; Mphahlele, L M; Mpontshane, A M; Msimang, C T; Msweli, H S; Mthethwa, E M; Mtshali, E; Mubu, K S; Mufamadi, T A; Mushwana, F F; Nchabeleng, M E; Ndabandaba, L B G; Ndebele, J S; Ndlanzi, A Z; Ndlovu, V B; Ndude, H N; Nel, A C; Nelson, W J; Nene, N M; Newhoudt-Druchen, W S; Ngcengwane, N D; Ngcobo, B T; Ngele, N J; Ngwenya, W; Ngwenya-Mabila, P C; Nhanha, M A; Nhlengethwa, D G; Njikelana, S J; Njobe, M A A; Nkwinti, G E; November, N T; Ntshiqela, P; Ntuli, B M; Ntuli, Z C; Nxesi, T W; Nxumalo, M D ; Nyalungu, R E; Nyanda, M F; Nyekemba, E; Nzimande, B E; Oliphant, M N; Ollis, I M; Oosthuizen, G C; Paulse, S U; Peters, E D; Phaahla, M J; Phaliso, M N; Pilusa-Mosoane, M E; Plaatjie, S K; Pule, D D; Rabie, P J; Rabotapi, M W; Radebe, B A; Radebe, G S; Radebe, J T; Ramatlhodi, N A; Ramodibe, D M; Ramokgopa, G ; Robinson, D; Ross, D C; Rwexana, S P; Saal, G; Schafer, D A; Schmidt, H C; Schneemann, G D; Segale-Diswai, M J; Selau, G J; Selfe, J; September, C C; Sexwale, T M G; Shinn, M R; Sibanyoni, J B; Sibhidla, N N; Sibiya, D; Singh, N; Sithole, K P; Sithole, S C N; Skosana, J J; Skosana, M B; Smalle, J F; Smith, P F; Smith, V G; Smuts, M; Snell, G T; Sogoni, E M; Sonto, M R; Sosibo, J E; Sotyu, M M; Steenhuisen, J H; Steyn, A; Steyn, A C; Stubbe, D; Suka, L; Sulliman, E M; Sunduza, T B; Surty, M E; Swart, M; Swathe, M M; Thabethe, E; Thibedi, J D; Thobejane, S G; Thomson, B; Tinto, B; Tlake, M F; Trollip, R A P; Tseke, G K; Tsenoli, S L; Tshabalala, J; Tshwete, P; Tsotetsi, D R; Turok, B; Twala, N M; Van Dalen, P; Van der Linde, J J; Van der Merwe, S; Van der Westhuizen, A P; Van Dyk, S M; Van Rooyen, D D; Van Schalkwyk, H C; Van Wyk, A; Waters, M; Wenger, M; Williams, A J; Williams-De Bruyn, S T; Xaba, P P; Ximbi, D L; Zikalala, C N Z; Zulu, B