The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) says it will wait to see the report including the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel, scheduled for May next year before making further comment.
The panel was established to begin the process of investigating the possibility of changing the current electoral system in South Africa.
Currently, the country is using the closed list electoral system.
The panel finalised the process of receiving public submissions in October this year on the proposals for a constituency-based electoral system.
Dr Rachel Fischer is the Parliamentary Engagement and Research Manager at OUTA, “The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse strongly supports electoral reform aimed at strengthening democracy in South Africa. OUTA’s vision aligns with the guiding principles articulated in the electoral reform consultation panel discussion which emphasises inclusivity, fairness, accountability as well as transparency. Electoral reform is the pivotal opportunity to redesign South Africa’s electoral system for a fair inclusion of independent candidates.”
Policy analyst, Nkosikhulule Nyembezi says the envisaged reinvigoration of the country’s electoral system will go a long way in keeping politicians on their toes at all times. The Electoral Reform Consultation Panel has concluded the process of receiving public submissions, on the proposals to change the current closed list electoral system, to a constituency-based system.
The panel is expected to submit its report to the Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber before the end of May 2025.
Nyembezi says there is much anticipation for change.
“There are good reasons to look forward to the panel recommendations, especially because South Africans are voting in a manner that demonstrates that we no longer want a single party dominance in our legislatures. We hope also that the recommendations will feed into the national dialogue that is much anticipated, in a way that demonstrates that the rights to stand for public office belong to individual South African citizens and not just to political parties. One other issue to look forward to has to do with political party funding which is so pervasive in these days in light of corruption accusations.”
Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Mosa Chabane says they will only be able to deliberate on the issue of a possible electoral change once the matter is before Parliament.
Schreiber is expecting to receive the report to be formulated by the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel by no later than May next year.
Schreiber gave the National Assembly an update recently.
“That process is now well under way with public engagements and other parts of that process being rolled out. And that panel will then make recommendations which will also come to this house and it’s only at that stage, once this process has concluded that we can really engage on the substance on whether these changes will be made or required.”
