In June 2020 the Constitutional Court found that the country’s electoral law is not constitutional, as the South African majority do not really vote for a representative.
Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota has published the wording planning the changes to the new electoral law of South Africa (SA), which will be tabled by him in Parliament.
A court ruling in June 2020 found that the South African electoral law is not in line with the Constitution of the country as it doesn’t give South Africans the right to be elected to Parliament and legislatures as independent candidates.
The system only allows candidates voted for through political parties to emerge.
Lekota wants the country to do away with a system that “alienates voters”.
He said when a member is elected through a political party a direct relationship between the voter and the elected representative doesn’t exist.
“The increasing and continuing alienation of voters from the political system is detrimental to democracy and the well-being of society at large,” he said.
Mmusi Maimane and Lekota want the independent candidates to be allowed in Parliament.
Parliament was given 24 months to fix the laws.
Lekota’s published wording seeks to replace the current wording of the Electoral Act, following the June judgement.
“It will also provide for a legislative mechanism to allow independent candidates to stand for election and allowing elections to happen in constituencies that align with districts using the Open List proportional representation, which will best serve the interests of every South African and most particularly those who have remained marginalised, neglected and increasingly alienated from the politics of the day,” Lekota said.
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He wants only people who have “the capability of representing voters in a granular manner, not political parties”.
“At present, most districts in South Africa are failing dismally and serially with local government being in a perpetual and lamentable crisis.
“With a district becoming a constituency, a scaffolding of political representation becomes immediately possible in each district,” he said.
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(edited by MLM)
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