Electoral Reform Consultation Panel call for Public Submissions

The Electoral Reform Consultation Panel (ERCP) is inviting members of the public, organisations including political parties or prospective independent candidates to make written submissions for its consideration on proposals for an electoral system for the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures.

Submissions must be emailed to [email protected] by no later than Thursday, 31 October 2024. The original closing date was 30 September 2024.

Read: Department Media Statement

Submissions must also address why, how and whether the current South African electoral system should be reformed, changed, or even replaced. 

Section 23 of the Electoral Amendment Act of 2023, which was promulgated in June 2023, provides for the establishment of the ERCP. The mandate of the panel is “to independently investigate, consult on, report on and make recommendations in respect of potential reforms of the electoral system for the election of the National Assembly and the election of the provincial legislatures, in respect of the elections to be held after the 2024 elections”.

The National Assembly approved the appointment of the following members of the ERCP:

• Adv Richard Sizani (Chairperson)
• Adv Pansy Tlakula
• Ms Mmatsie Mooki
• Ms Tomsie Dlamini
• Dr Michael Sutcliffe
• Mr Sy Mamabolo
• Mr Michael Hendrickse
• Mr Norman du Plessis
• Dr Albertus Schoeman

The panel's composition is diverse and includes academics, election administrators, and public service experts. It was appointed earlier this year in May and must conclude its mandate within a year of the 2024 general elections. In essence, the panel's report, which must include recommendations on possible electoral systems, is due at the end of May 2025.

The panel has adopted six initial guiding principles for evaluating proposed electoral systems for South Africa. These principles draw on the founding values set out in section 1 of the Constitution to establish a multi-party system of democratic government based on accountability, responsiveness and openness to uphold values of human dignity, non-racialism, non-sexism, and the achievement of equality. The six guiding principles are inclusivity, fairness, accountability, simplicity, electoral manageability, and transparency.

Follow the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel on social media on the following handles;

• https://x.com/Electoral_RCP
• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564445482964

Electoral Amendment Act 2023 (view sec 23)

Parliamentary deliberations during the processing of the Electoral Amendment Bill

Electoral Task Team (also known as the Slabbert Task Team)

ERCP Preliminary Guiding Principles