An Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) employee got the boot after a sneak peek at the African National Congress (ANC) and uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) 2024 election candidate lists hit the internet. These lists were leaked and shared online shortly after they were handed over to the commission last Friday.
The leaked lists revealed that former President Jacob Zuma was the candidate chosen to lead his MK Party, with Jabulani Khumalo, who registered the party, as his number two. Also mentioned in the leaked list is Des Van Rooyen, SA’s shortest-serving finance minister.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo confirmed that the leak came from within the IEC. He addressed the media in Centurion, Pretoria, explaining that the investigation had narrowed the source of the disclosure to a workstation used to generate and store those reports. The reports were later deleted from the employee’s workstation. “Earlier today, that workstation was secured and imaged in the presence of the officials whose credentials were used to generate the reports,” Mambolo said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the investigation, stating that the ANC has nothing to hide.
Mamabolo said that the IEC’s dismissal of the employee demonstrated its commitment to transparency and accountability. “The Electoral Commission maintains the highest level of integrity, ethics, and professionalism. Any behaviour that violates our code of conduct or undermines the credibility of the organisation cannot be tolerated,” Mamabolo said.
