By: Xolani Khumalo
The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) says South Africa’s current electoral system is not fit for purpose, calling for urgent reforms to ensure greater fairness and accountability.
This comes as the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel prepares to submit its recommendations to Parliament at the end of next month. The panel is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the country’s electoral framework and is expected to propose a range of reforms aimed at strengthening democracy.
IRR spokesperson Marius Roodt said the electoral system South Africa needs must be proportional, fair, and promote accountability. He emphasised that voters must be able to hold individual public representatives accountable, something that is difficult under the current party-list system.
The panel was established as part of the country’s ongoing response to the Constitutional Court’s 2020 ruling, which declared the Electoral Act unconstitutional for not allowing independent candidates to stand for election at the national and provincial levels.
