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Why South Africa Needs Electoral Reform: A Look at Mixed-Member Proportional Systems

With the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel’s invitation for comments on why, how and whether South Africa’s present electoral system should be reformed, changed, or even replaced, Daniela Ellerbeck explores the options facing South Africa.

The post WHY SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS ELECTORAL REFORM: A LOOK AT MIXED-MEMBER PROPORTIONAL SYSTEMS appeared first on FW de Klerk Foundation.

So what is wrong with our current system?

In the current system, half of Parliament’s seats (200) are contested by independent candidates and political party candidates contesting the nine regions (regional seats).

The other half are contested by political party candidates (compensatory seats).

The compensatory seats are there to restore overall proportionality between the political parties due to any potential distortion created by the regional seats.

Accountability

Unfortunately, the current system does nothing to ensure that elected representatives are more accountable to the electorate than their party (the accountability problem). It also fails to meet other constitutional requirements, such as responsiveness and openness.

And while an independent candidate may be nominated in more than one region, the votes s/he receive across those different regions may not be aggregated for him/her to obtain a seat in Parliament. Furthermore, if an independent candidate wins more than one seat, s/he is awarded only one seat and forfeits any additional seats.

Cleary, this results in a system in which votes cast for independent candidates count substantially less than those cast for political parties. (It also fails to meet the constitutional requirement for proportionality insofar as votes cast for independent candidates will not result in their proportional representation in the National Assembly or provincial assemblies.)

Not to mention the high degree of wasted votes, because independent candidate will only be awarded one seat, even if they win more than one seat.

It speaks volumes that not one independent candidate was able to win a seat in the National Assembly.

For these reasons, and others, electoral reform is not only justified, but very necessary.

What is the solution?

Some form of a mixed-member proportional system has been repeatedly proposed: First, by the majority in the Van Zyl Slabbert Report (which was published before…continue reading this article HERE.

 

Des van Rooyen: {2015 (acting)} Van Rooyen’s short term was characterized by instability and
controversy, leading to significant backlash against his appointment, which was seen as politically motivated.

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  1. Van is hitch-hiking and he gets picked up by a larnie in a merc. After travelling awhile and making small talk, Van asks the larnie what the 3-pointed star on the bonnet is for. The larnie decides to have some fun with Van.

    \”Oh, that\’s the sights, you know, for aiming. When I see someone on the side of the road and I want to run him over, I just line him up in the sights.\”

  2. Fun South African Fact: Vilakazi Street in Soweto has been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners. A tour through Soweto will always stop at Vilakazi Street to reveal a number of heritage sites of great importance to democratic South Africa. Both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu lived here at some point in their lives. In 1984, Archbishop Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition for his non-violent fight against the apartheid regime. Nine years later in 1993, Nelson Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize with then-president F.W. de Klerk as an award for their role in bringing about the peaceful end of apartheid. Nelson Mandela then went on to become South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994.