Issued by: Office of the President
10 July 1997
In terms of section 6(1) of the Electoral Commission Act, 1996 (Act No. 51 of 1996), I hereby appoint the following persons as members of the Electoral Commission in a part-time capacity.
Bam, B N; Kriegler, J C; Mpumlwana, N F T; Van der Merwe, S S; and Vilakazi, H W.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Republic of South Africa at Pretoria on the 9 of July, One thousand Nine hundred and Ninety seven.
Thabo Mbeki ACTING PRESIDENT
Signed MINISTER OF THE CABINET
Ms B N BAM: Ms Bam is a highly respected national and international figure. She will give the Commission respect, credibility and authority by her presence. She already serves as General Secretary of the SACC, non-executive Deputy-Chairperson of the SABC Board, member of the Human Rights Commission and is a founder and President of the Women's Development Foundation. She expects to retire from her present employment at the SACC in March 1998. Until then she is not able to give as much time to the Electoral Commission as she will be able to do after March 1998. She made it clear, however, that as a part-time commissioner she would attend meetings. She is a person of deep commitment and once she has committed herself to the task, she will add great value to the Commission even at its formative stages. The panel gave consideration to the potential conflict which might exist between the position of an electoral commissioner and that of a senior member of the SABC board. The issue depends on whether her responsibilities at the two institutions can be organised in a way which ensures that such a conflict does not arise.
Justice J C KRIEGLER: Justice Kriegler was Chairperson of the IEC which managed the 1994 elections. It is widely acknowledged that he gave that process a great deal of credibility and authority and has thereby earned universal respect. Unfortunately, Justice Kriegler has made it clear that he is only available to serve the Electoral Commission in a part-time capacity.
Ms N F T MPUMLWANA: Ms Mpumlwana has roots in the church and the women's movement. She is an educationist and researcher. She has leadership qualities but lacks a high national profile. What she brings is political insight, education and learning skills as well as community awareness and sensitivity to the needs of ordinary people - especially women. Ms Mpumlwana is willing to serve full-time.
Mr S S van der MERWE: Mr van der Merwe is an adviser at the Department of Constitutional Development. He has extensive experience in the public service and has served as director-General at both the Departments of Justice and Home Affairs. He previously headed the Department of constitutional Development and he also played an important role in the transitional process. He brings an intimate knowledge of the Constitution as well as local government affairs. As Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs and as a member of the Local Government Elections Task Group he has experience of electoral matters. He is available to serve in a part-time capacity.
Prof. H W VILAKAZI: Prof. Vilakazi is Dean of the Faculty of Arts and professor of sociology at the University of Zululand. He lived and studied in the United States of America for many years. In South Africa he has been on the staff of several universities and is involved in many academic bodies. He has expressed strong views on the role of African people in the transformation. He brings an intimate knowledge of the situation in Kwazulu/Natal. He has no direct experience in managing elections. He is available to serve in a part-time capacity.