Parliament reviews system overhaul as 2026 election date is set

President Cyril Ramaphosa's announced the 4th November as the date for the upcoming local government polls.

Parliament said that it has enough information at hand to consider changes to the country’s electoral system for the 2029 national and provincial elections.

Although the Election Reform Consultation Panel could not agree on a single set of options to present to Parliament, the two groups have each made their own suggestions to Parliament’s Home Affairs and Cooperative Governance committees.

But the panel has warned that any electoral reform is expected to cost the government far more than running the current system.

During the amendment of the Electoral Act in 2023, the push for independent candidates to participate in national and provincial elections gave rise to the establishment of the panel to consider alternative electoral systems for the country and to report back to the Home Affairs minister within a year of the 2024 elections.

Chairperson of the panel Richard Sizani said that even though the nine-member panel could not reach consensus and has now compiled their two reports in a single document, it captures a broad spectrum of views.

"At this stage, we have challenges, and really our message if we can leave Parliament with the idea that in whatever system they choose, they must really try and change and listen to their people.

Chairperson of the Cooperative Governance committee, Zweli Mkhize, believes that once Parliament opens the proposals up to further engagement, greater consensus can be reached.

"There’s a lot we can work on now to move towards a solution, and the major issue that drives the approach to transformative review is accountability."

Mkhize said that it is imperative that Parliament addresses voters’ concerns ahead of the 2029 polls.