Independent candidates are now allowed to vie for public offices at the provincial and national levels, a departure from the previous norm reserved for political parties. The Electoral Amendment Bill, which restores the validity of the country’s Electoral Act, was signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in response to a Constitutional Court judgment in June 2020 that deemed the previous Act unconstitutional.
The court ruling had stated that adult citizens could only be elected to the National Assembly and provincial legislatures through their membership in political parties.
President Ramaphosa, in his statement, emphasised that the amendment bill will strengthen the country’s democracy and broadens the pool of leadership choices available.
As the news unfolds, discussions are underway among various experts, including political analysts, legal analysts, and commentators. In today’s edition of Village Square Africa, Keminni Amanor engage Vusi Gumbi, Benedict Phiri, and Tumisang Moremane who bring their perspectives on this development from the University of Johannesburg and IusPrudentia Specialist Counsel in Johannesburg, South Africa. Watch:
