South Africa has a “golden opportunity” to change its electoral system to match criteria such as fairness, simplicity, and proportionality, the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) argues in a new report, Electoral Reform – Time to do it properly.
“It would be a mistake to let this opportunity pass,” says author of the report, IRR head of campaigns and Daily Friend deputy editor Marius Roodt.
The report was launched at an online webinar yesterday in which Roodt discussed his report with IRR Projects and Publications Manager Terence Corrigan.
Roodt notes: “The electoral system that South Africa needs is one that is proportional, but that is also fair, ensures accountability, and is easily understood by voters.
“The current system – as amended prior to the 2024 election – is not fit for purpose. The bolting on of individuals to a party-list system is a logical absurdity. One could also argue that the amended system meets the letter of the Constitutional Court’s judgement, but not its spirit.
“It will be a travesty for South Africa and its people should the government choose to persist with the current electoral system, which has all the disadvantages of party-list proportional representation without any of the advantages of having constituencies (which the provinces in theory are, in this system).”
Roodt argues that it would be “a grave mistake and … a disservice to South African democracy” to keep the existing system with only “minor tweaks”, which is one of the three options being considered by the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel (ERCP), established in May 2024 to review South Africa’s electoral system.
‘Continuing with the current system, with only minor reforms, will do nothing to improve accountability, fairness, or responsiveness.”
Roodt writes: “South Africa has a golden opportunity to revise its electoral system and ensure that it meets all the necessary criteria, such as fairness, simplicity, and proportionality. It would be a mistake to let this opportunity pass.”
South Africans “are increasingly checking out of active politics, with the proportion of South Africans registering to vote, and actually turning up at the ballot box, declining markedly”.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that declining turnout poses an existential threat to South African democracy. If South Africans do not believe that voting is a legitimate way of making their voice heard then they may turn to other ways of ensuring that they are heard, including violent methods.”
The “primary outcome” of the investigation is as expected – it is feasible to implement a mixed-member proportional representation system in South Africa, whether this comprises single-member constituencies or multi-member constituencies.
“In each case, having half of the available seats as constituency seats (as happens currently with local government elections), is a perfectly safe and viable choice. In the design of a new electoral system, if it is held that there is a need for greater ‘connection’ between the National Assembly and the electorate, then it is possible to increase the numbers of constituency seats available. In the case of single-member constituencies, it is ‘safe’ to choose 240 or 250 constituencies, while multi-member constituencies will allow 300 constituency seats (as proposed in the 2003 van Zyl Slabbert Report).”
Roodt says that while implementing constituencies “will not be a silver bullet for ensuring greater responsiveness from public representatives, it is a first step towards greater levels of responsiveness and accountability”.
“We recommend that a single-member constituency system with a parallel list of members elected from party lists be adopted. There are certainly weaknesses to this system, notably there is a real risk that two ‘classes’ of MP can emerge.
“While constituencies have been shown to work well, their introduction could also change the political incentives which exist currently. MPs elected from single-member constituencies (SMCs) will be incentivised to actually take the concerns of their constituents seriously and to raise local issues nationally. In addition, with MPs that are connected to geographical constituencies there will also likely be greater incentive for people living in those constituencies to take a greater interest in politics and democracy more broadly – it will not just be an exercise of going to the ballot box every five years.
“In addition, political parties will be incentivised to ensure they recruit candidates of high quality. For the ANC in particular, Parliament has in some ways become a dumping ground for politicians who have failed elsewhere. With MPs elected from SMCs, parties will have to make sure that the candidates they put forward are dynamic and hard-working, and truly take the concerns of their constituents into account.”
Roodt says “(t)his will likely be South Africa’s last opportunity in the medium term to implement an electoral system that truly works for its people” and the country “dare not let this opportunity slip”, as, failing to make use of it “could have dire consequences for the quality and sustainability of South African democracy”.
Ultimately, the report says, whatever electoral reform is adopted, “the power of real change is in the hands of South Africans”.
The report cites Dr Leon Schreiber’s comment during ERCP consultations in April: “Anyone who promises us that the introduction of independent candidates, or constituencies, or changes to proportional representation – or any other proposal that the panel may make – will magically resolve all your problems, is deceiving us.”
“Schreiber adds that it is up to voters to do the heavy lifting, saying: ‘It is ultimately up to voters to use the improved system that will emerge from this work, to participate in democracy, punish failed and corrupt leaders, and reward progress.’
“A new electoral system can only take us so far – the power of real change is in the hands of South Africans.”
Read the full report here. The link includes access to yesterday’s webinar.