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FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION CALLS FOR URGENT TRANSPARENCY ON ELECTORAL REFORM PROCESS
Issued by Daniela Ellerbeck on behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation on 20/08/2026
The FW de Klerk Foundation has called on Parliament to provide urgent clarity regarding its consideration of the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel (“ERCP”) report, warning that continued uncertainty could jeopardise meaningful electoral reform before the 2029 national and provincial elections.
Established by law, the ERCP was tasked with reviewing South Africa’s electoral system and recommending reforms.
“Among the strongest public messages to the ERCP was the need for a system that makes politicians accountable to the voters, not a political party,” says Daniela Ellerbeck, an attorney and the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Constitutional Rights Programme Manager. “South Africa’s electoral system is responsible for this: It determines how our votes get used to decide how many seats in Parliament go to which political party and how those political parties decide which member to give that seat to.”
Although Parliament has had the ERCP report before it for more than six months, key aspects of the process remain unclear, including timelines, institutional arrangements, opportunities for public participation and decision-making milestones.
“We fully recognise the complexity and importance of electoral reform,” says Ellerbeck. “However, transparency, accountability and responsiveness require Parliament to communicate clearly how it intends to process the ERCP report. The public has a right to know how this time-sensitive matter, which goes to the heart of our constitutional democracy, will proceed.”
Parliament has also advised that its relevant Committees are also scheduled to meet on 28 August 2026, during which the matter may be considered.
“Electoral reform is not something that can be implemented overnight,” says Ellerbeck. “Legally, Parliament must consider the report,” Ellerbeck added. “The critical question is whether it will do so within a timeframe that gives effect to the purpose of the legislation and allows meaningful reforms to be implemented before the next national election.“
The Foundation has requested a substantive update on the status of the process, including any roadmap, anticipated timelines and plans for public participation, and remains committed to constructive engagement on this vital democratic issue.
END
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THE CCTSA WINS CULTURAL AWARD
The Centre for the Constitutional Transformation of South Africa (CCTSA) is delighted to announce that it was named winner of the Heritage, Memory and Identity category at this year’s Western Cape Cultural Affairs Awards, held in Cape Town on 9 September 2026. The CCTSA is dedicated to telling the story of South Africa’s constitutional journey. The awards, hosted annually by the Western Cape Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, recognise individuals and organisations that make a meaningful contribution to the cultural, linguistic and heritage life of the province.
STATE CAPTURE IS HOLDING BACK SOUTH AFRICA
After Nelson Mandela was elected in 1994 his government abolished racially segregated local authorities, creating ostensibly integrated municipalities. Today these range in size from Johannesburg, the commercial capital, to units like Mpofana that comprise a small town and rural areas. All are supposed to fund themselves through property taxes, business rates and charges for water, electricity and waste collection. The poorest also get a grant from the central government to fill any gap between revenue and expenditure.