DA, EFF, IFP raise concerns over composition of electoral reform panel

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in Parliament have all raised concerns about the composition of a panel that will consider election reform for the country. 
 
The list of nine names was presented to Parliament's home affairs committee on Tuesday at its last meeting before the end of term. 
 
But opposition parties are not convinced the list is representative enough of experience, civil society, youth and gender. 
 
The electoral reform consultation panel will only have a year from this year's election to report back to Parliament. 
 
The DA, EFF and IFP have all questioned the exclusion of former IEC commissioner and chair of the Institute of Election Management, Terry Tselane, to serve on the electoral reform consultation panel. 
 
IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe: "It's not about the names that have been tabled, it is about the names that have been left out. We have not included anybody from civil society." 
 
The EFF's Thapelo Mogale also took issue with the inclusion of former IEC chairperson, Pansy Tlakula, over Tselane.
 
"We have reservations given how she departed from the IEC in 2014 in terms of what the Public Protector found against her." 
 
But Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said that all the candidates had the requisite experience and political parties' picks were merely preferences. 
 
He's chosen former PAC MP, Richard Sizani, to lead the panel. 
 
The list will be put before the National Assembly at its final sitting on Thursday.