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Bantu Holomisa

The International Conference on Sustaining Africa’s Democratic Momentum, held between March 5 and 7 last year in Sandton, emphasised the importance of sufficient political representation of parties in all organs of the state. This was in the context of their participation to ensure and enhance high levels of transparency and accountability with high levels of authority.

At the same conference, the African Union (AU) Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and other international electoral commissions were identified as sources of reference for the evaluation of electoral democracy.

What is clear is that electoral processes and systems differ from country to country. What is important is that all the stakeholders involved should continuously review the state of their electoral systems.

Therefore we commend the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for the conference it organised in October last year, where political parties, the IEC, civil society and various experts explored theories, concepts, democratic practices of electoral systems, floor-crossing, independence of the IEC, party funding, the role of the media and inter- and intra-party democracy

Since 1994 we have been striving to develop a system of democracy that will best address the imbalances of the past. This meant finding a democratic system that would embody the standards, norms and values of our society.

At the core of the democratic impulse of every person are two related needs: choice and voice. People desire alternatives in order to choose what best suits them, and they want their needs and aspirations acknowledged.

Our country’s constitution creates the space for these two needs to be fulfilled with the provision for multiparty democracy and other related mechanisms and institutions.

While we appreciate the progress made thus far, the challenge facing us is to look into how we can strengthen the institutions of our democracy, such as the IEC.

Currently the IEC cannot be called independent because it remains institutionally and financially dependent on government.

We would like an IEC that can independently announce the date for elections.

We need to develop a legal framework that would allow the IEC not to be at the mercy of the minister of finance or of home affairs when it comes to funding – such as when the IEC calls for the improvement of its infrastructure to avoid rigging or to enhance electoral processes and the relevant ministers simply drag their feet, frustrating the institution.

We need to look at the composition of the IEC board and ask if it is fairly constituted.

We need to ask why it is that only Parliament, where the ruling party dominates, has a say in the composition of the IEC leadership.

A fully representative IEC would allow us to know which IT company was controlling our elections. Is it a genuine company, a front company or a company belonging to a certain political party?

What is the role of intelligence agencies in elections? What mechanisms are used to screen those companies?

There is therefore a need for electoral review that will enhance high levels of accountability and participation of the electorate.

In the same vein, we fully support the view that the public should fund our democracy so as to avoid our politics being mortgaged either to business, wealthy individuals and companies, or outside governments or institutions which might influence our government policy.

Obviously this necessitates that there should be proper legislation for party funding, including regulations on how private business and unions support political parties.

All we are asking for is for a levelling of the playing field.