IEC can't make promise to rid its systems of data leaks

CAPE TOWN – The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it can’t promise there won’t be any more leaks from its systems.

But it is confident that its systems can detect any fraudulent behaviour. 

Last week, the commission fired an employee within days of the African National Congress (ANC)’s candidate lists being leaked. 

The IEC was before Parliament’s home affairs committee on Tuesday, providing an update on its election preparations. 

Its Deputy CEO Masego Sheburi said the employee who was responsible for leaking the ANC’s candidate lists mere hours after the submission deadline, had authorised access to the system. 

However, the person who has since been fired was not permitted to share or distribute the information. 

“How are we going to stop further leaks? It’s a difficult one. Can we stop information being shared in an authorised manner? I don’t think we can make that promise without lying to you.” 

Sheburi said since the incident, controls have been tightened. 

“We have limited access. We have disaggregated the reports that any one person has at any given time, so that the person doesn’t have access from a to z unless there’s a critical unavoidable business need.” 

The IEC is only due to publish parties’ candidate lists next week to allow time for the public to peruse and query them.