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Johannesburg - UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has welcomed IEC chairperson Pansy Tlakula's resignation but lamented the time it took for her to step down.
"She has at last seen the light, but it is a pity that she was forced to do so at great cost to government and political parties," Holomisa said in a statement.
"There are now no more excuses; the Electoral Commission must immediately implement all the findings of the Public Protector, including those that fingered certain IEC officials."
Tlakula announced her resignation on Tuesday and said she had submitted her letter of resignation to President Jacob Zuma.
"I leave the IEC with a heavy heart and wish to thank the President, the National Assembly and the people of South Africa for affording me the opportunity to serve in one of the most important institutions promoting democracy."
Tlakula said she believed that in the 13 years she spent at the helm of the organisation she served without fear or favour, and contributed to building an institution that delivered election results that were accepted by all political parties.
"I wish to thank all political parties for the support they gave me throughout the years," she said.
Calls for resignation
Tlakula came under attack from political parties leading to the elections with many of them calling for her resignation. She was taken to court by some opposition parties.
The parties were the United Democratic Movement, the African Christian Democratic Party, the Congress of the People, Agang SA, and the Economic Freedom Fighters.
The parties argued that her integrity had been compromised. The application followed a forensic investigation by Treasury into the procurement of the IEC's Riverside Office Park building in Centurion, Pretoria.
The probe found the process was neither fair, transparent, nor cost-effective. It found Tlakula did not give guidance or formally inform various people what was expected of them in the process.
Tlakula had maintained she was not accused of corruption in the report. The Treasury's report followed a recommendation by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in her own report into the matter, released in August last year.
She said the process of trying to clear her name had been long drawn out and for the sake of the institution, she decided to abandon this process and resign.
'Lesson to the untouchables'
Holomisa said: "Let this be a lesson to other people in high places who believe they are untouchable and above the constitutional organs and courts of this country."
The IEC said Tlakula's resignation signalled the end of a "particularly challenging and tumultuous period".
"The Electoral Commission has noted the resignation of Chairperson Advocate Pansy Tlakula," the IEC said in a statement.
"Her resignation opens the way for the Commission to begin closing a particularly challenging and tumultuous period in the Electoral Commission’s history and to move forward as an institution."
The commission said it hoped history would show Tlakula had "made a significant contribution to deepening electoral democracy both here and outside of South Africa during her long career at the Electoral Commission".
It expressed confidence that it had the "capability, experience and leadership within the IEC to continue to deliver free, fair and credible elections".
