Umamah Bakharia | ub@radioislam.co.za

3min read
7 October 2022 | 12:00 am CAT

Civil society organisation ‘Defend Our Democracy’ (DOD) is launching a national electoral reform campaign to encourage change to the Electoral Amendment Bill by including independent candidates.

“Changing our voting system gives us the opportunity to directly choose who represents us in Parliament and mechanisms to hold Parliamentarians accountable,” says DOD.

In September, civil society organisations such as the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, My Vote Counts, Rivonia Circle, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, and DOD submitted amendment proposals to Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs.

They are of the view that the Ministerial Advisory Committee
on Electoral Reform should be considered as a minimum basis for changing the
electoral system.

Currently, the bill as it stands does not constitute independent candidates to run for office.

“The current Bill privileges political parties and further disadvantages independent candidates by making them compete on an unequal footing with political parties,” says DOD.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is meant to sign off on the Election Amendment Bill by December this year.