Raenette
Taljaard may have been reminded of this 6 months ago when ANC secretary-general
Gwede Mantashe accused her of having a “clear political affiliation” to the
Democratic Alliance in her position as an IEC commissioner.
Mantashe
targeted her in his row with DA leader Helen Zille, who had claimed the IEC was
in danger of becoming “another ruling party lapdog” in the buildup to the 2016
municipal elections.
Mantashe’s exact
words to Zille were: “The attempt to link the IEC to the ANC is
disingenuous. …The irony is that the only Commissioner in the IEC with clear
politician affiliation is Raenette Taljaard, a former DA MP and former CEO of
the Helen Suzman Foundation.”
It
did not matter that Taljaard had meticulously safeguarded the non-partisan
nature of her job as part-time commissioner. It did not matter that she had
left the DA after quitting as an MP 10 years earlier, or that she had resigned
as CEO of the Helen Suzman Foundation more than two years before taking up her
part-time post at the IEC.
The way things roll
This
is the way things roll in public office. You are vulnerable to
finger-pointing, even if it is unfairly directed and especially in this
politically charged.
Yet
the ANC has chosen to use its majority vote in parliament to recommend the
appointment of Vuma Glen Mashinini, who is currently special projects
advisor to the president, as an IEC commissioner. This puts Mashinini in line
for the top job as chairperson. He got the thumbs up despite being widely
regarded as an ally of Jacob Zuma. “So what?”. That was the vocal and irritated
response from ANC MPs to the backlash from opposition parties in the National
Assembly. The ANC pointed to Mashinini’s considerable experience as deputy
chief electoral officer which would make him a tempting candidate. His more
recent consultancy work in election services in other parts of Africa could
also be useful, as long as there is no conflict of interest.
In his interview before a panel headed
by chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, Mashinini reportedly said: “I am an adviser
to the head of state, my role is professional and non-political.”
It may be true that Mashinini would
prove to be a fine commissioner or even chairperson. But perception counts in
public office and for the entire opposition, his link to Zuma is too close for
comfort.
The IEC, with a previously umblemished
record, recently wobbled during the controversy over a botched R320 million
leasing deal which led to chairperson Pansy Tlakula’s resignation. The IEC, an
institution tasked with ensuring the country’s elections are free, fair and
transparent, cannot afford even a hint of scandal.
The controversy over Mashinini coincided
with the resignation of Taljaard. The IEC was among those who paid tribute to
her “unquestionable integrity”. Her departure prompted speculation that
she was walking away midway through a seven-year term in protest against
Mashinini’s imminent appointment. She has insisted that the timing was
coincidental. After 18 years in public office, she wants to focus on her
academic work at UCT. The independently minded Taljaard appears to have no
interest in being drawn into the divisive political storm. It could be, in part
at least, that she would not want her past allegiances to be used as a cheap
shot to detract from the real issues at stake.
The power of Number 1
The person with the power to make a difference is Number 1. The decision to accept or reject parliament’s recommendation rests with him. Zuma could still make use of Mashinini’s considerable skills, by retaining him in his office, but not the IEC. By doing so, he would shield the IEC from risk and would be putting South Africa first.
This article was previously published three weeks ago on:
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Mashininis-link-to-Zuma-too-close-for-comfort-20150309
