OPINION | Michael Louis: Stop playing Russian roulette with our right to vote
by Michael Louis It is not by chance that currently more than 77 civil organisations, including religious, business and trade unions, are unsettled, and the objection to the current draft Electoral Amendment bill, passed by the standing committee last week, is gaining momentum, writes Michael Louis. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is playing Russian roulette […]
Approval of Electoral Amendment Bill is yet another constitutional crisis in the making
By Michael Louis Civil society has been given no other option than to rely on the courts and civil mobilisation to realise its constitutional rights and reform this electoral system. Wednesday 12 October 2022 marked a Kairos day in 28 years of democracy when Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs approved the Electoral Amendment Bill to […]
Time to talk bluntly about Parliament’s blatant Stalingrad tactics on electoral reform
By Michael Louis Dr Michael Louis is the Chairperson of the One South Africa Movement (OSA). _____________________________________________________________________________ Over the past decade and more, we’ve heard much reference to the concept of “Stalingrad” legal strategy — particularly in reference to the likes of former president Jacob Zuma and embattled Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. It is a long-term […]
Electoral Amendment Bill is still unconstitutional, say opponents
Civil society organisations to make a last-ditch effort to get the bill changed Civil society organisations will be making a last-ditch effort to amend the Electoral Amendment Bill to address what they regard as its unconstitutional aspects, but with parliament’s home affairs committee had decided on most issues there seems little prospect of success at […]
Civil Society agrees on next steps to change electoral system before 2024 elections
Joint Statement by civil society organisations This past Friday, 27 May 2022, a large cohort of civil society organisations held a roundtable discussion to deliberate and decide on a collective approach to the Electoral Amendment Bill currently before Parliament. This gathering took place just two weeks ahead of the 11 June 2022 deadline set by […]
Electoral Amendment Bill: OSA considers options after Parliament asks ConCourt for extension
The One South Africa Movement is considering its option after Parliament asked the Constitutional Court for a six-month extension to amend the Electoral Act. The Constitutional Court gave Parliament two years to amend the law, but Parliament only started working on the law this year. The law must allow citizens, who are not members […]
OPINION | Mudzuli Rakhivhane: Draft electoral bill can change SA’s democracy, but has 4 key flaws
Parliament is currently considering what is arguably the single most important piece of legislation before it since the dawn of democracy, writes One South Africa Movement’s Mudzuli Rakhivhane. The One South Africa Movement (OSA) believes strongly in the ability of independent candidates of all races, classes, and genders to act as agents of significant change […]
LETTER TO PARLIAMENT’S HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE | Electoral Amendment Bill process was flawed
LETTER TO PARLIAMENT’S HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE | Electoral Amendment Bill process was flawed We write with grave concern that there has been a failure to meet these constitutional standards in the public participation process concerning the Electoral Amendment Bill, writes a group of civil organisations. Dear Mr Chabane Last month, the much-anticipated public hearings into […]
Inclusive Society Institute says Electoral Bill does not respond to society’s expectations for fundamental electoral reform
THE Inclusive Society Institute says the current Electoral Amendment Bill does not adequately respond to society’s expectations for fundamental electoral reform. This was the position advanced by the civil society group when it made its submission to the parliamentary public hearing on the Electoral Amendment Bill this week. The home affairs portfolio committee is in […]
Time to make proper provision for all Electoral Candidates
Electoral Amendment Bill under consideration ignores the Constitutional Court directive for Parliament to pass a law to include independent candidates in all our legislative bodies CAPE TOWN – When the current fighting over the appropriate scope of the legislation to include independent candidates into all our legislative bodies stops, Parliament and civil society organisations […]