Panel set up to consider electoral reform options for SA fails to reach consensus

A panel established to consider electoral reform options for the country has failed to reach consensus, resulting in two reports being submitted to Parliament for consideration.

A letter to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber from panel chairperson, Richard Sizani, sheds light on the disagreement between members regarding the contents and presentation of the final report.

The panel members who produced the majority, alternative report are largely former and current Electoral Commission officials, who say that the so-called original report appeared to be biased.

Over the years, there have been several panel reports suggesting changes to the country’s electoral system as the electorate appeals for greater accountability from public representatives.

This latest panel was chosen by Parliament in line with the Electoral Amendment Act passed in 2023, which provided for the matter to once again be considered, following the introduction of independent candidates in last year’s national and provincial elections.

The act makes provision for two reportsin the event of disagreement on the panel. This panel was split four to five.

The majority or alternative report, supported largely by those who’ve worked for the IEC, proposes three main constituency-based options at the national level that would allow for individuals to directly elect one or more representatives from a district, and not only for all 400 MPs to be chosen by political parties.

The original or minority report also presents three options, including the status quo, and two, smaller two-tier compensatory and constituency systems, which are variants of those proposed by previous reform panels led by Frederick van Zyl Slabbert and Valli Moosa.

The reports are still to be considered by Parliament’s home affairs committee for further recommendation to the House.