Opposition parties await Ramaphosa's stance on Electoral Matters Amendment Bill

CAPE TOWN - Political parties opposed to the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill are waiting until next week to consider taking the matter to court.

Ten opposition parties have petitioned President Cyril Ramaphosa not to assent to the bill on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

They say the African National Congress (ANC) opportunistically used the need for changes to be made to the electoral system to substantially increase the party’s public funding by 25% based on current representation.

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The elections are just a few weeks away and parties are still fighting the latest electoral reforms in the bill, which include changes to the Political Party Funding Act to include independent candidates.

But the parties including the Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), National Freedom Party and Freedom Front Plus said should Ramaphosa signs the bill into law, they would be forced to join civil society in approaching the courts.

But IFP chief whip Narend Singh said a decision would be taken in due course.

"I think the last statement that they gave to NGOs was that they’ve got a month to respond. So by next week we’ll push them for a response."

Singh said the parties will consider taking Ramaphosa to court should he fail to respond or goes ahead and signs the bill into law.