The court found that Tlakula had compromised the integrity of the commission.
“This court recommends that a committee of the National Assembly adopts the facts, views and conclusions of the court and that it finds that the respondent has committed misconduct, warranting her removal from office,” Judge Lotter Wepener said in a written judgment.
“In my view, the respondent compromised the independence and integrity of the commission to such an extent that her actions complained of constitute misconduct within the meaning of the Electoral Commission Act.”
“It is conduct which renders her unsuitable for the office of a commissioner and destructive of the very values of the commission,” he
added.
Tlakula was engulfed in controversy following alleged misconduct, relating to a lease for office space for the commission.
The Economic Freedom Fighters, United Democratic Movement, Agang SA, Congress of the People and the African Christian Democratic parties approached the court seeking Tlakula’s removal from office.
This followed a report by the public protector and a subsequent forensic investigation by the National Treasury, which found that there
were irregularities in the procurement of the commission’s premises in Centurion, Pretoria.
The parties’ application was made earlier this year.
However, the matter was postponed until after the general elections to allow the court sufficient time to make a recommendation.
The court’s recommendation would be handed over to a parliamentary committee to take further steps.
