Cape Town - The Electoral Reform Consultation Panel has inspired little confidence that it would comprehensively perform its mandate within the established time frames.
The portfolio committee was briefed by the Department of Home Affairs and a progress update was provided from the panel on Tuesday.
The establishment of the panel came about following a realisation by the committee on the public request for a fundamental review of the current electoral system.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the panel had the department’s support and there would be no “taint” of political interference or involvement in the independent and objective process.
Panel chairperson Richard Sizani, an advocate, said the committee comprised nine members approved by the National Assembly and in May 2024, the home affairs minister appointed the panel in terms of section 23 of the Electoral Amendment Act.
The mandate of the panel was to independently investigate, consult and make recommendations on potential reforms of the electoral system for the elections of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures; undertake a public participation process; and submit a report to the minister every three months on its progress.
Within 12 months of the date of the 2024 elections, the panel must submit a report to the minister on possible options for electoral reforms.
A report with recommendations on potential electoral systems is therefore due at the end of May 2025.
“We are not required, as the committee, in terms of understanding our terms of reference, to actually recommend a particular system or one system to the portfolio committee. We are supposed to give them options,” Sizani said.
In its draft programme of action, phase one will consist of research and to obtain comments and inputs from the public.
On August 26, the panel put out a call for written submissions from the public, civil society organisations, and political parties or prospective independent candidates, with a deadline set at September 30.
Phase two of the process will draw on the proposals from public submissions and the panel’s research, which will inform a discussion paper for public consultation.
“Our question is why, how and whether the South African electoral system should be reformed, changed, or even replaced. So we are asking the public to give that … if it should be changed, how?” said Sizani.
He said the panel did not intend to ask the minister for an extension of six months as their intention was to finish on time.
Panel member Dr Albertus Schoeman said that in December, and likely until February, the panel would engage with political parties, civil society organisations and communities to share the discussion paper and discuss prospects of electoral reform.
“After that we will have this highlevel conference where we will call in international experts to address some of the issues that came out of the public participation events and that will then feed into the final report, which will be shared with the minister on May 29 to table in Parliament for discussion.”
Submissions can be delivered via three ways: hand delivered to House 4, Ministry of Home Affairs, 909 Arcadia Street, Hatfield; mailed to Electoral Reform Consultation Panel at Private Bag X114, Pretoria, 0001; or emailed to [email protected]
Cape Argus