Since 1994 South Africa’s National Assembly and its nine regional legislatures have been elected on a list-based system of proportional representation. Proportional representation is a constitutional requirement. Elections for the Assembly and the legislatures are held simultaneously, though this is not a constitutional stipulation. Voters complete two ballot forms, one for the Assembly, the other […]
Elections, which constitute the basis of the concept and practice of modern liberal democracies, have a twofold significance: they serve as a tool for legitimating the political regime and they provide the main forum for both political competition and popular political participation. In both cases they help to secure popular control over government – the […]
This paper surveys the constitutional provisions pertinant to a future electoal system applicable to the elections of South Africa’s National Assembly and provincial legislatures. It also also addresses court decisions releant to these provisions. The Constitution of te Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 (the Constitutsion) requires that this electoral system “results, in […]
