IEC employees barred from striking

Employees of the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) cannot go on strike, the organisation said on Monday.

"[They] are barred from embarking on any strike since their services were declared essential services by Parliament," said spokeswoman Kate Bapela.

The City Press reported on Sunday that the commission's workers threatened to strike if chairwoman Pansy Tlakula were removed before the May 7 elections.

Tlakula has been fingered in an independent forensic audit as well as Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report into the leasing of the IEC's R320 million head office in Centurion, Pretoria.

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and AgangSA leader Mamphela Ramphela have also called for her resignation.

The African National Congress has come out in Tlakula's defence, saying her issues did not impact the credibility of the elections.

City Press reported that organisers of the unprecedented strike said it was supported by more than 90 percent of IEC employees who had mandated the national negotiating forum -- a worker's structure led by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union -- to enter into talks with IEC commissioners.