South africa has a parliamentary system of government. South africas national electoral system represents one of the most. The president of south africa will be elected by the national assembly following the election. South africas democratic system was endorsed by voters drawn from across the countrys racial divide in april 1994.
Electoral systems, conflict management and inclusion the national assembly parliamentary and provincial elections held in south africa in 1994 marked the high point of a period of tumultuous change from authoritarian rule to multiparty democracy in southern africa as a whole. The following section describes the constitutional theory of the major institutions of government and the constitution itself. Amended by electoral laws amendment act 1 of 2019 amended by electoral amendment act 18 of 20 from 26 nov 20. Dec 14, 2017 changing the south african system to allow for direct election would require. South africas first non racial, democratic elections. This is a comparative introduction to elections and electoral systems in africa. The premiers of each province are elected by the respective provincial legislatures. South african electoral system roundtable report by claude.
Political systems that are partly democratic and partly autocratic have proven to be especially vulnerable to electoral violence, as they lack the institutional fabric required to channel grievances in a constructive manner. If you are a registered voter, you can check your name on the voters roll. From 1910 until 1994, south africas electoral franchise had remained almost exclusively the preserve of the white minority population. Voters vote for a political party, not individuals. It represents the third in a loose series of analyses about democratic elections in south africa. Elections in post apartheid south africa south african. Strengthening participation of young people in south. Electoral systems and conflict in divided societies ben reilly and andrew reynolds 1 t his work examines whether the choice of an electoral system in a culturally plural society can affect the potential for future violent conflict. Our present provincial system falls into this category. In south africa we use a pr system to vote for parliament and provincial legislatures. Review of electoral systems and democratisation in southern africa. Actually, the south african system used in april 1994 was already such a system. Lindberg department of political science, lund university, po box 52, lund 221 00, sweden abstract based on an original data set of elections in africa, this article addresses the orthodoxy of theoretical hypotheses regarding the e. Violence and coercion became a common means of changing.
In south africa, we have a democratic system of government. It held its first universal suffrage elections in 1994, after a transition from white minority rule under. The current electoral system might espouse democratic values of fairness and inclusivity, while maintaining its simplicity, but it remains weak on the key democratic value of accountability. For municipal councils there is a mixedmember system. Popular attitudes toward the south african electoral system. Understanding south africa s government and electoral system south africa is gearing up for what is being tabled as the most important election process since the birth of democracy 25 years ago. S 1, 68, 24, 3334, 5758 amended by general laws loss of membership of na, prov. Twenty years of south african democracy executive summary after 20 years of democracy, south africans celebrate that human rights have been realized and that. South africa is one of the most democratic states in a continent where genuine democracy is struggling to take root. One way to think about electoral systems and interethnic conciliation is to ask whether a given system provides politicians with electoral inducements for moderate behaviour, for. South africas postapartheid election outcomes demonstrate how contextual factors interact with electoral rules to shape party systems. Types of electoral systems electoral systems and processes. The republic of south africa is a parliamentary representative democratic republic.
Elections and electoral systems in africa oxford scholarship. The union of south africa was created on 31 may 1910 by the south africa act 1909, an act of the british parliament. South africas parliament, which resides in cape town, oversees legislative authority and consists of two houses. The first section is a historical overview, which points out that although elections have been an integral part of african politics since political independence, they take place with a wide range of frequencies and under very difficult political conditions. Pdf popular attitudes toward the south african electoral. While the topic of electoral systems may be interesting in itself, the attention of politicians, journalists or the general public will not be engaged unless it is clear how an electoral model will affect the fortunes of their own parties or particular interests. Ersa shall not be liable to any person for inaccurate information or opinions contained herein. It is a mistake to treat south africa as regionally unique in having to confront the politics of electoral system choice. South africa s national electoral system represents one of the most permissive in the world, combining parliamentary rules with an extreme form of proportional representation. Denis kadima, executive director of the electoral institute for sustainable democracy in africa eisa and mrs. The political landscape of south africa is currently undergoing uncomfortable growing pains, demonstrated by factional infighting amongst all leading parties and a general loss of faith amongst the nations electorate. Understanding south africas government and electoral system. South african electoral system background in south africa, in recent years, there has been significant political debate and public dialogue over the appropriateness of the current national and provincial electoral system a closed party list, proportional representation system. Strengthening participation of young people in south africas electoral and democratic processes.
The electoral system is based on partylist proportional representation, which means that. The electoral system and opposition parties in south africa. While there is strong disappointment with the government and its leaders. South african and international scholars to assess the quality of democracy and the electoral process in south africa over the past ten years, with special emphasis on the 2004 elections.
The electoral commission of south africa iec is a chapter nine independent state institution. Election types electoral commission of south africa. Electoral systems and conflict in divided societies. Although we do not have data for the 2007 kenyan election, and although far from a perfect contest in 20, kenyas last elections were improved by avoiding extensive bloodshed. Pdf south africas dominantparty system in comparative.
Find out more about checking your name on voters roll or contact the iec. Surveying the understandings of political parties 1 2 executive summary this project and report establish groundwork for a freedom house project to strengthen participation of young people in south africa s democracy. South africa s postapartheid election outcomes demonstrate how contextual factors interact with electoral rules to shape party systems. Human capital inequality and electoral outcomes in south. A countrys electoral system is the method used to calculate the number of elected positions in government that individuals and parties are awarded after elections. Surveying the understandings of political parties 1 2 executive summary this project and report establish groundwork for a freedom house project to strengthen participation of young people in south africas democracy. Indeed, since the overthrow of apartheid and the introduction of universal sufferage, one political party has utterly dominated south african politics and power.
These rules were selected to encourage broad representation of. South africa s national and provincial elections take place every five years. The republic of south africa rsa is a parliamentary representative republic. The south african electoral system helen suzman foundation. The electoral process directly impacts parliament by way of party representation. Popular attitudes towards the south african electoral system. Electoral systems, power and accountability report commissioned by the council for the advancement of the south african constitution casac.
While freedom was greeted with euphoria in many places, it could not mask the deep political instability that often accompanied independence. If your name is not on the voters roll, you must visit your local electoral commission iec office to reregister. Human capital inequality and electoral outcomes in south africa. Two hundred members are elected from national party lists. The legal framework governing national elections in south africa is composed of the constitution, the electoral act 73 of 1996, the electoral commission act 51 of 1996 and the public funding of represented political parties act 103 of 1997. The president is elected by the national assembly the lower house of the south african parliament and must retain the confidence of the assembly in order to remain in office. The interface between law and politics keynote address cape town 27 august 2010 kate oregan justice of the constitutional court 1994 2009 i introduction the constitution of the united states of america is 7000 words long. The national assembly, mentioned above, and the national council of provinces. It does this by attempting to discover the possible linkages between elections, electoral systems, constitutionalism and. Strengthening participation of young people in south africas. There is little doubt that coming from a history of a racially divided society, people voted for their skin colour in 1994 over policies. Pdf this article is based on a survey of popular attitudes towards the pure list system that is south africas proportional representation electoral. Even if voters feel betrayed by the conduct of a parliamentarian.
Adekunle amuwo questions and answers on an african perspective on electoral system options 75. Paper prepared for the international roundtable on the south african electoral system 2002 5. The electoral system of the time was thus interwoven with the prevailing apartheid political system. Twenty years of south african democracy freedom house. There is little doubt that coming from a history of a racially divided society, people voted for.
Botswana electoral system introduction the republic of botswana is a country of about 582,000 square kilometers in size, situated at the centre of the southern african plateau at a mean altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. Arguably, south africas electoral system requires reform, and the report by the ett needs to be seriously reconsidered. South africa conducted its first two democratic, nonracial general elections of 1994 and 1999 under a form of proportional representation pr that is unique for a. Proportional system electoral formula how to compute the quota. This process underpins the ethos of freedom as such, its important for citizens to understand the intricacies of the electoral process and the governmental administration which is impacts. There are few linear relationships linking events in north africa to specific shifts in democratisation on the continent. Pdf popular attitudes towards the south african electoral system. Strengthening participation of young people in south africa s electoral and democratic processes. Check name on voters roll south african government.
The manner in which south africas electoral system operates certainly does not give full expression to the will of the people. Electoral politics in south africa south african history online. Although racism was practised from before the formation of the. Understanding the factors that influence voting among young south africans lauren tracey do you wan t m y vo t e.
The electoral system is based on partylist proportional representation, which means that parties are represented in proportion to their electoral support. The library, documentation and information department of the african studies centre has compiled this dossier to coincide with the general elections in south africa on may 7, 2014. Electoral systems, constitutionalism and conflict management in. South africas electoral system, as we now know it, was carefully.
The article assesses the adoption of a proportional representation electoral system for south africas first postapartheid election, held 2628 april 1994. Elections follow a fiveyear cycle, with national and provincial elections held simultaneously and municipal elections held two years later. The south african constitution does not provide any clarity on the nature of the relationship between extraparliamentary political parties and their elected representatives in. Such a system, or a replica of the one we use at municipal level where geographical constituencies return one representative, topped up with a parallel party list could be implemented in south africa. Challenges and opportunities september 2011 background from the 1950s through to the 1970s, decolonization swept across africa. However, the frustration propelling the protests in north africa resonates with many africans. First, what accounts for the sustained electoral dominance of the african. Relations congressional research service summary south africa is a multiracial, majority black southern african country of nearly 52 million. Pdf how the south african electoral system was negotiated. The provincial legislatures, which differ in size from 30 to 80 members, are also elected by a system of proportional representation with closed lists. A pluralist examination of the south african electoral system. Parliaments power is mandated by the south african constitution. A similar system would be put in place at provincial level.
Lodge, t 2004 handbook of south african electoral laws and regulations 2004, eisa. However, one must not assume that a new electoral system will be a panacea. How south africas electoral system effectively disen. Voting behaviour and the influence of social protection.
The new international idea handbookas part of its tenth anniversary celebrations. South africans take their human rights for granted and retain faith in the democratic system, with strong support for voting. South african and international scholars to assess the quality of democ racy and the electoral process in south africa over the past ten years, with special emphasis on the 2004 elections. South african elections 2014 african studies centre leiden. Introduction the electoral institute of southern africa eisa deployed a regional observer mission to observe the south african elections which were held on 1214 april 2004.
This essay serves as an analysis of south africa s dominantparty system. This paper suggests that the arab spring is a trigger for further democratic reforms in africa, rather than a driver. Apr 20, 2017 the south african constitution does not provide any clarity on the nature of the relationship between extraparliamentary political parties and their elected representatives in the national and. Electoral systems are relevant here because the question of whether a given government can enact legislation effectively is linked to whether it can assemble a working majority in the legislature, which is in turn linked to the electoral system reynolds et al. Voting behaviour and the influence of social protection ne authors. To interrogate these questions, i have analysed the maxim ubi ius ibi remedium whenever there is a right, there is a remedy, the state according to social contract, two dimensions identified in the right to vote, the right to recall, the unconstitutionality of the south african electoral system and possible reforms as sub themes in this article. Reflections and options panel contributions 67 adv. Leila patel, yolanda sadie, victoria graham, aislinn delany and kim baldry a study of voting behaviour in three poor areas in south africa. Electoral reform in south africa we need a system that elevates the elector more than the party, a democracy that trusts its people to express their own free will directly, not via a party list south africans must take a fresh look at their democratic options. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the funder, ersa or the authors affiliated institutions. The house of assembly the lower house of the newly created parliament of south africa and the provincial councils were elected by firstpastthepost voting in singlemember electoral divisions. South africas national electoral system represents one of the most permissive in the world, combining parliamentary rules with an extreme form of proportional representation. African experiences quota report series this report was compiled from the. Between leadership, trust and technocrats development planning division working paper series.
Twenty years of south african democracy executive summary after 20 years of democracy, south africans celebrate that human rights have been realized and that society is transforming. Effective governance, it is posited, derives from the consent of citizens through the inculcation of interpersonal trust. Idea is publishing this new edition electoral system design. The quest for democratic consolidation, piper, l ed, eisa research report no 12. There is no shortage of political parties in south africa. Apr 20, 2012 sas electoral system fails the people. South africa received a largely glowing report of the quality of the election from the african union. South africa needs electoral reform, but presidents powers need watching. South africa s 2019 general elections will again give the people an opportunity to make their mark, quite literally, on the future of south africa.
However, only a small number of parties have real influence and power. South africa, electoral systems, proportional representation. The firstpastthepost electoral system versus proportional. The south african electoral system and the 2004 election article pdf available december 2004 with 382 reads how we measure reads.
Toward a new electoral system for south africa rational. It contains a selection of titles on elections in south africa from the librarys online catalogue, including monographs, articles, and chapters from edited works, published since 1993. The president of south africa serves both as head of state and as head of government. Does the electorate have effective remedies under the south. Elections in south africa are held for the national assembly, provincial legislatures and municipal councils. Electoral systems that produce proportional results or accountability to constituents or durable governments may or may not foster interethnic conciliation. While staying faithful to the original edition, the new handbook features an updated core text, fresh material on. This means that we all can contribute to making the law for our country. South africa s first non racial, democratic elections south africa s democratic system was endorsed by voters drawn from across the countrys racial divide in april 1994. Parliament has 400 seats and each of the nine provincial legislatures has between 30 and 90 seats depending on the number of people who live in the province. The system is also not designed to make it difficult for the will of the people to be usurped or subverted. Formerly bechuanaland protectorate, it borders on the republic of south africa, namibia. Singletier systems, which are based on either national representation or regional representation only and where a combination of the two is excluded.