ACDP says proposed DA Bill amounts to an attack on multi-party democracy and is not best suited for South Africa

MEDIA RELEASE
Cheryllyn Dudley, MP and Whip
30th July 2013


ACDP MP and Whip, Cheryllyn Dudley today said that “The proposed DA Bill amounts to an attack on multi-party democracy and is not best suited to South Africa.”

“The ACDP supports initiatives to ensure greater accountability but we do not agree that the DA’s proposal will ensure MP’s are any more accountable to the electorate than they are now.  We also regard the proposal as a tool that will disadvantage minority groups and new parties on the political landscape.

The ACDP pointed out, at the time the proposal was submitted to Parliament, that it might also be in conflict with section 46 (1)(d) of the constitution which requires an electoral system that “results, in general, in proportional representation”.

“The changes suggested by the DA are not new and were in fact considered at the time of the Slabbert Commission.  At that time it was acknowledged that the multi-party aspect of South African politics has proved invaluable in ensuring relative peace, allowing a significant degree of goodwill and nation-building.”

“A ‘first-past-the-post’ system can leave as much as 49% of people feeling they have lost. Having no representation or voice causes frustration which often results in irrational behavior in an effort to be seen and heard.”

The Home Affairs Portfolio Committee have also concluded that the proposed changes to the electoral system might very well dilute the constitutional principle of multi-party democracy and that the proposed changes will be to the detriment of smaller parties, resulting in a two or three party system instead of the current multi-party system.

The introduction of a constituency-based proportional representation list system will result in a more complex electoral system. Whilst aimed at greater accountability, it is questionable to what extent a proportional representation list at constituency level will achieve this as the voter will still vote for a party, not a candidate.

The part of the Bill dealing with absent and special voters will be dealt with through the Electoral Amendment Bill [B22-2013], 2013, which has been submitted to the Speaker by the Minister of Home Affairs.

 “The ACDP appreciates the importance of these matters being debated with a view to improving on aspects of accountability, we have however voted against this proposal which, in our opinion does not find the right balance.”