THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SOUTH AFRICA’S ELECTORAL REFORM
2025-01-26
Daniela Ellerbeck discusses the Electoral Act, as well as electoral reform and the importance of public participation.
Daniela Ellerbeck discusses the Electoral Act, as well as electoral reform and the importance of public participation.
Yesterday Parliament passed a very much reworked version of the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (‘the GILAB’) – a shining example of successful public participation.
The GILAB, which had civil society organisations using their legal expertise to insist that the State respect the Constitution, has been amended and is a success story of the effects of this public participation.
In a letter to the Department of Home Affairs, former President Mbeki criticised the DHA’s White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection for containing serious inconsistencies and omissions. Public participation in policy and law creation usually exposes flaws in laws, which begs the question: Was public participation meaningful considered?
The rule of law is one of the Constitution’s founding values. It is accordingly most disturbing to learn that one-third of magistrates were threatened or harmed in 2021/2022.
While South Africa is meant to be a participatory democracy, recent events have highlighted concerns about Parliament listening to the people.