By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former vice-chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission Janet Love was the first candidate placed before the panel chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Twelve candidates were interviewed for the vacant position of IEC commissioner on Tuesday.
During her interview, Love said one of the challenges facing the IEC in the run-up to the 2024 general elections is the general sense of dissatisfaction in society.
“The IEC requires a ramping up of a huge number of initiatives in order to deal with the key challenges that the organisation faces.
“Some of the key challenges include the challenges that arise from the huge dissatisfaction that arises from the society in terms of what is being delivered as a consequence of elections and the consequences of corruption.
“The three things I think are challenges with regards to participation and very much in terms of the youth. Secondly, it has to do with ensuring that one can have trust as there is a big trust deficient generally in all state institutions and unfortunately, the commission doesn’t escape that. Thirdly the contestation, the emotional part of that contestation is a lot sharper so because of those three things.
“The commission has to take on board things which it may have not had to prioritise in the same way historically. For example, the commission, for all of its time since its existence, has embarked on democracy education but prioritises voter education on what people can expect and how it will be.”
She also warned that there is a need for the commission to ramp up its dispute resolution mechanisms.
“Today it’s not enough to prioritise that so much has to be done, not on its own, but in collaboration with other actors around democracy education so that young people, in particular, are understanding that participation is an essential way in which they can take hold of their lives.
“Similarly, like things in regard to contestation. The commission has and would have to ramp up further its alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.”
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