ActionSA calls for electoral reform to allow voters to directly elect SA president
In South Africa’s party representative system, ward councillors are the only public representatives who can be directly elected by voters.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba at the party's manifesto launch in Johannesburg on 23 March 2024. Picture: @Action4SA/X
JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA says the electoral system should be changed to allow voters to directly elect the president of the country.
In addition, the party said mayors, premiers, members of parliament, legislature and the head of the National Prosecuting Authority, should all be directly elected by voters.
In South Africa’s party representative system, ward councillors are the only public representatives who can be directly elected by voters.
READ: ActionSA wants all citizens aged 18 and over to be automatically registered to vote
ActionSA has submitted its idea to the electoral review consultation panel which is accepting public submissions on how to improve the country's electoral system.
"Thirty years into democracy it is vital that South Africans have accountability to our public representatives who are elected and that there is a standard of raising the bar on the performance and conduct of representatives. The moment that South Africans are voting for individuals, political parties will be forced to put forward a higher calibre of candidates going forward," said ActionSA national chairperson, Micheal Beaumont.