Idasa made a submission to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development requesting that the draft Constitution 17th Amendment Bill should be reconsidered. The effect of the draft Bill is to significantly alter the current constitutional and legal provisions relating to national, provincial and local spheres of government in South Africa. Idasa submitted that such profound changes to South Africa's constitutional and co-operative governance structures, affecting both municipal and provincial spheres of government, must be considered carefully, taking into account the legitimate needs and interests of all stakeholders, before being implemented. In that sense, the draft Bill is premature. Overall, there seems to be a lack of congruence between the relatively narrow issue being addressed (the provision of sustainable electricity services) and the instrument of an overly broad constitutional amendment that gives national government greater control over local government in a wide range of circumstances.

See Idasa's submission to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development attached (pdf).