Home Affairs Minister, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, is likely to present a task team report on a proposed new electoral system to Cabinet, during its first sitting, in a move likely to see the adoption of a new electoral law for general elections to be held in the country next year.

This comes after the minister today received the report from Dr Frederick van Zyl Slabbert, leader of the electoral team, which was tasked by government to explore the possibility of a new electoral legislation for the country in the face of the outdated law.

At present the country does not have an electoral system as the one used in previous elections expired after the 1994 general elections.

The majority report, however, calls for a new electoral system, which the ministry says, is ‘deemed to be more suitable to the needs and aspirations of South African democracy and to the promotion of accountability in politics.’
The report’s recommendations, which will be available for public and parliamentary scrutiny at a later stage, are likely to open up debate within political circles especially in light of the political situation in KwaZulu-Natal, where the dissolution of the provincial legislature is understood to be imminent amid divergent opinions and perspectives on the constitutionality of such a call.

The minister said in a statement today that the recommendations contained in the report had been ‘the product of broad public consultation, an international conference, extensive research and individualized consultation with key stakeholders, especially political parties.

‘The majority report of the Electoral Task Team recommends a new electoral system which is deemed to be more suitable to the needs and aspirations of South African democracy and the promotion of accountability in politics.’ – BuaNews.