Civil society organisation My Vote Counts on Friday launched the Civil Society Electoral Reform Panel (CSERP), as a way to demonstrate civil society’s continued commitment to deepening democracy and its engagement with the process of electoral reform.

The CSERP is made up of nine representatives from non-governmental organisations and social movements working in government accountability and transparency.

The panel will embark on a process to advise civil society on broad electoral and political reform.

In June 2020 the Constitutional Court ruled that the Electoral Act was unconstitutional to the extent that it prevented adult citizens from standing for and being elected to the National Assembly and provincial legislatures as independents.

The Court ordered Parliament to amend the law to address this deficiency. The Court order set in motion a parliamentary process for electoral reform and reignited the critique of the electoral system that was put in place during the start of South Africa’s democracy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Electoral Amendment Act into law in April 2023.

But My Vote Counts noted that the Act presented minimal reform to the electoral system.

“It simply incorporated independents into the political system at national and provincial level - and faced constitutional challenges and critique from civil society,” it said.

The State set up another panel to advise on broad electoral reform, with My Vote Counts alleging that the panel lacked civil society representation but included current or former members of the Electoral Commission, as well as members of previous electoral reform panels.

“The majority of the people of South Africans have been saying there is something wrong with the electoral system, something has to be done in order to be able to fix this problem. We therefore got together as society organisations in order to try to confront, because we are not convinced that Parliament will be able to come up with something. We have our own doubt about the panel appointed by the State,” said executive chairman of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa Terry Tselane.

He emphasised that the CSERP was not competing with or opposing the State panel, however it would complement the work being done in Parliament.

My Vote Counts emphasised that it wants to collaborate with government.

Tselane explained that the approach Parliament had taken in the past had been a largely technicist approach where he said a few people got together and the main criticism was that there is not enough consultation.

He believes the CSERP will benefit the country with the experience carried by the various civil society organisations.

Tselane highlighted that the panel would ensure it took the mass-based approach.

“Our inclusion is to consult as much as we can and we will indeed be using that as one of the most important approaches going forward.”

He said the CSERP would use those collective experiences and research to advise on electoral reform, while also analysing the current electoral system.

The panel will develop policy options that will drive accountability, and mobilise civil society.

He said the CSERP would also have a platform for the public to participate in the broader electoral reform project.

Abahlali baseMjondolo’s Thapelo Mohapi stated that he was committed to holding academia to account with regards to public participation, adding that people on the ground must understand the electoral system in their own language to fully participate in democracy.

The panel hopes to re-excite the public and contribute immensely toward electoral reform that prioritises direct accountability.

The State panel is conducting research and will put out a public call for comments and submissions. They hope to consult people in all provinces and get a broad buy-in from civil society. They expect to have submitted their final report to the Home Affairs Minister by the end of May 2025