The cloud hanging over the Independent Electoral Commission is unfortunate. Its head, Pansy Tlakula, has refused to budge and remove herself from the organisation.
After adverse findings against her by the public protector and an audit investigation commissioned by the Treasury relating to the lease of the IEC building, it was expected that she would react appropriately - but this is South Africa, where leaders in government and the private sector do not take responsibility.
Opposition parties have called on Tlakula to resign and allow the IEC to continue arranging next month's election without a tainted head.
In mature democracies, leaders and officials quit to protect the integrity of their party or institution. But we can't blame Tlakula for staying on. She is merely following in the footsteps of our political leaders.
President Jacob Zuma, is refusing to take responsibility for the "security upgrading" at his private home in Nkandla. If the head of state is refusing to own up, then we can't expect others, lower down the ladder, to do so.
The message being sent by the ruling party is worrying. Its support of Tlakula tells us that individuals are, to it, all too often more important than principles.
Tlakula should do the honourable thing and remove herself from the IEC. But she won't.
We can't afford to have an IEC head who is deaf to calls by the opposition, on sufficient grounds, for her to quit. The commission is an essential part of our democracy. Its integrity should be protected at all costs and its leaders must be above reproach.
The ANC says that the election will not be compromised by the IEC continuing to be headed by Tlakula - but it misses the point. She can't be bigger than the IEC . Her continued tenure points to a culture of "I am safe for as long as the ANC supports me".
Tlakula should take responsibility for her actions and step aside.
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