”If the IEC loses integrity it is not going to be to in everybody’s interests – it would be bad,” said Lemias Mashile after the commission had presented its audit report for 2014/15 on Tuesday.

“Do everything in your power to support democracy,” he urged committee members who are drawn from political parties represented in Parliament.

There would be chaos if the president of a party did not accept an election result so, “it is up to us to make sure the IEC is protected”.

Earlier, IEC vice chairperson Terry Tselane said political parties have a major responsibility to “excite people” to turn out at the elections and if they did not accept a result, to use the objection processes available.

Aggrieved parties should rather bring evidence to support their claims, than to create falsehoods over the integrity of an election.

The IEC itself keeps emphasising to staff the importance of impartiality and to appoint people who understand their responsibility.

“We cannot afford as an organisation to have widespread irregularities and errors,” he said.

Tselane had had to provide an update on the controversial Riverside office park lease deal, which, at a cost over R30m a year, would be reviewed by a court after its procurement processes were found to be flawed.

After a report to this effect by the public protector, and one commissioned by national treasury, head of the commission Pansy Tlakula resigned last September.