The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs yesterday, 3 September, considered correspondence from Chief Justice Mandisa Maya recommending eight candidates to fill three vacancies on the Electoral Commission of South Africa from 4 November 2025. While the committee resolved to give members time to consult their political parties on the three names to be recommended to the National Assembly, some committee members objected to the lack of youth representation on the list.
“My concern is that there seems to be no young people recommended to fill these vacancies. I want to understand why maybe they didn’t receive applications from young people below the ages of 50 or 40. The median age in South Africa is about 35, but you look at the age of people who are being recommended here is elderly people. We seem not to be getting young people in this space,” said committee member Mr Thapelo Mogale.
In response, committee Chairperson Mr Mosa Chabane did not have details on the matter and so could not provide an explanation for the omission. “If permissible, what we will do is we will write a correspondence to the Speaker to get a sense from the panel, broadly, on the issues of representation of youth and people with disability. You are raising a critical matter, which was also raised when we were processing the filling of a vacancy previously,” Mr Chabane emphasised.
Ms Busaphi Machi welcomed the representation of women among those recommended for the posts, saying their presence there is based on their skills. “We welcome the number of women included in the list to be considered by the committee, and the fact that they bring with them necessary skills and they are not just recommended based on their gender,” Ms Machi emphasised.
The vacancies within the commission will arise because of the expiry of the term of office of Mr Mosotho Moepya, Dr Nomsa Masuku and Judge Dhaya Pillay. The Electoral Commission Act sets out a process for the filing of positions within the Commission. Section 6(3) of the Electoral Commission Act mandates the Chief Justice, as the Chairperson of the panel, and members of the panel to advertise vacancies, hold interviews and recommend no more than 10 names to the portfolio committee. The committee must then undertake its processes before recommending names to the National Assembly for consideration.
“The committee was of the view that further consultation would serve to strengthen the process and ensure greater openness and transparency. The committee will soon schedule a meeting where a report with the recommended candidates will be considered, Mr Chabane emphasised.
The committee highlighted that it is acutely aware of the impending end of the term of the three incumbent commissioners and is committed to concluding the process with the necessary speed. The committee will schedule, in due course, a meeting to consider and develop a report.
Malatswa Molepo
4 September 2025
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