Civil society organisations feel that the Electoral Amendment Bill in its current form is not fair to independent candidates. Image: Adobe stock
‘A blow to democracy’: OUTA on Electoral Amendment Bill
Despite calls from various civil society organisations the National Assembly adopted the controversial Electoral Amendment Bill.
Civil society organisations feel that the Electoral Amendment Bill in its current form is not fair to independent candidates. Image: Adobe stock
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has heavily criticised the National Assembly’s plenary decision to adopt the controversial Electoral Amendment Bill.
The Bill was adopted on Thursday, 20 October despite calls from a number of civil society organisations who were against it in its current form saying that it disadvantages independent candidates .
OUTA SLAMS ADOPTION OF ELECTORAL AMENDMENT BILL
A total of 330 votes were cast, with 232 Members of Parliament voting for the Bill, 98 rejecting it and three abstaining from the vote.
The ANC, EFF and Al Jama-ah voted in favour while the DA, FF Plus, ACDP, IFP, ATM, and UDM rejected the Bill which will now go to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
The Electoral Amendment Bill was warranted by the Constitutional Court judgement in the New Nation Movement NPC and Others vs President of the Republic of South Africa and Others case in June 2020 which ruled that the Electoral Act of 1998 was unconstitutional to the extent that it requires that adult citizens may be elected to the National Assembly and Provincial Legislation only through their membership of political parties.
OUTA’s Parliamentary Engagement and Research Manager Rachel Fischer said they are dismayed at Parliament’s utter lack of consideration for the constitutional concerns that OUTA and other civil society organisations and experts raised.
Fischer said MPs who voted in favour of the Bill ignored a resounding call from OUTA and more than 50 other civil society organisations to reject the Bill in its current form.
“It is a disgrace that Parliament was given 24 months from the Concourt judgement to amend the Electoral Act but not only missed the June deadline, but there’s a good chance that the Bill will not be finalised by the extended deadline of 10 December 2022. Unless, of course, the National Assembly and NCOP pull out all the stops to force this Bill through, trampling on any substantial and valid effort to critique it,” she said.
“It is evident that the National Assembly and National Council Of Provinces are intent on forcing the Electoral Amendment Bill through to meet the 10 December 2022 deadline. Now it is up to civil society and South Africans to ensure proper electoral reform that respects our civic rights and protects our constitution,” Fischer added.
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