Electoral Commission Act, 1996 (Act No. 51 of 1996)Chapter 2 : Electoral Commission9. Conduct of commissioners |
| (1) | Every member of the Commission shall— |
| (a) | serve impartially and independently and perform his or her functions as such in good faith and without fear, favour or prejudice; |
| (b) | if appointed in a full-time capacity, serve as such to the exclusion of any other duty or obligation arising out of any other employment or occupation or the holding of any other office, unless specifically authorised thereto by the President. |
| (2) | No member of the Commission— |
| (a) | shall during his or her term of office be eligible for appointment or nomination to any political office; |
| (b) | may, whether directly or indirectly, in any manner give support to, or oppose, any party or candidate participating in an election, or any of the issues in contention between parties or candidates; |
| (c) | may, by his or her membership, association, statement, conduct or in any other manner place in jeopardy his or her perceived independence, or in any other manner harm the credibility, impartiality, independence or integrity of the Commission; |
| (d) | may make private use of or profit from any confidential information gained as a result of his or her appointment and functions as such member; |
| (e) | may divulge any such information to any third party save in the course and scope of his or her official functions; |
| (f) | shall during his or her term of office be eligible to serve as a member of Parliament, a provincial legislature or a local government body, and such ineligibility shall continue for a period of 18 months reckoned from the date upon which such term of office has terminated. |