Election Bill met with fierce opposition

JOHANNESBURG - The Constitutional Court should draft legislation to change the electoral system ahead of the 2024 polls.

This is the suggestion by Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba.

His comments come as civil society organisations urge President Cyril Ramaphosa to reject the Electoral Amendment Bill when it gets to him.

READ: Casac states support for electoral reforms

The Home Affairs Parliamentary Portfolio Committee is racing to pass the Electoral Amendment Bill to comply.

This follows a Constitutional Court ruling declaring the exclusion of independent candidates in provincial and national elections unconstitutional.

READ: Debate rages around proposed changes to electoral policies

But civil society organisations say the Bill doesn’t protect MPs who are beholden to their parties to vote with their conscience.

The organisations aren’t ruling out court action if Ramaphosa signs the Bill into law in its current form.

* eNCA’s Moloko Moloto reports.