Electoral Models for South Africa: Reflections and Options Electoral Task Team Review Roundtable 9–10 September 2002 Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town South Africa KONRAD ADENAUER FOUNDATION • SEMINAR REPORT • JOHANNESBURG • MAY 2003 © KAS, 2003 All rights reserved While copyright in this publication as a whole is vested in the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, copyright in the text rests with the individual authors, and no paper may be reproduced in whole or part without the express permission, in writing, of both authors and the publisher. It should be noted that any opinions expressed are the responsibility of the individual authors and that the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung does not necessarily subscribe to the opinions of contributors. Published by: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung 60 Hume Road Dunkeld 2195 Johannesburg Republic of South Africa PO Box 1383 Houghton 2041 Johannesburg Republic of South Africa Telephone: (+27 +11) 214-2900 Telefax: (+27 +11) 214-2913/4 E-mail: [email protected] www.kas.org.za Editing, DTP and production: Tyrus Text and Design Reproduction: Rapid Repro Printing: Stups Printing Table of contents List of tables vii List of abbreviations ix Preface xi DAY ONE, FIRST SESSION ELECTORAL OPTIONS AND CORE VALUES 1 Opening remarks 3 Dr Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert The Konrad Adenauer Foundation 5 Michael Plesch Welcoming address 7 The Honourable Minister, Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi Shared aspirations: The imperative of accountability in 15 South Africa’s electoral system Dr Wilmot James & Dr Adrian Hadland Panel contributions 27 Adv Pansy Tlakula, Dr Athaliah Molokomme and Dr Pallo Jordan Questions and answers on electoral options and core values 35 Electoral options and core values: A summary 41 Prof. Tom Lodge DAY ONE, SECOND SESSION, PART A AN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE ON ELECTORAL SYSTEM OPTIONS 45 Review of electoral systems and democratisation in Southern Africa 47 Dr Khabele Matlosa iv ELECTORAL MODELS FOR SOUTH AFRICA: REFLECTIONS AND OPTIONS Panel contributions 67 Adv. Patekile Holomisa, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Prof. Adekunle Amuwo Questions and answers on an African perspective on electoral system options 75 An African perspective on electoral system options: A summary 77 Dr Chris Landsberg DAY ONE, SECOND SESSSION, PART B THE VOTERS’ PERSPECTIVE 79 Popular attitudes towards the South African electoral system 81 (draft report to the Electoral Task Team) Prof. Roger Southall & Dr Robert Mattes Panel contributions 105 Prof. Paulus Zulu & Prof. Amanda Gouws Questions and answers on voters’ perspectives 109 Popular attitudes towards the South African electoral system: A summary 113 Prof. Fink Haysom Conclusion—Day one 115 Dr Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert DAY TWO, FIRST SESSION A PRACTICAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THEORETICAL MODELS 119 What electoral systems are available? An international perspective 121 on the current debate in South Africa Prof. Jørgen Elklit Electoral systems and accountability: A proposal for electoral 131 reform in South Africa Prof. Murray Faure & Prof. Albert Venter Panel contributions 157 Dr Frene Ginwala & Prof. Nico Steytler Questions and answers about theoretical models 163 TABLE OF CONTENTS v A practical discussion about theoretical models: A summary 171 Paul Graham DAY TWO, SECOND SESSION ELECTORAL ALTERNATIVES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS 173 Electoral alternatives and their implications for South Africa 175 Norman du Plessis Panel contributions 185 Johnny de Lange, Ken Andrew, Peter Smith, Patricia de Lille, Bantu Holomisa, Nkutsoeu Motsau and Francois Beukman Questions and answers on electoral alternatives and their implications 193 Electoral alternatives and their implications: A summary 199 Prof. Barney Pityana Conference summary and closure 201 Dr Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Comprehensive bibliography 205 Selected press clippings 211 Conference programme 223 Participants’ list 225 Seminar reports 231 Occasional Paper series 233 List of tables • SADC elections calendar 50 • Electoral management bodies (EMBs) in the SADC region 51 • Types of electoral systems and representation 53 • Electoral system, size of legislature and nature of representation 54 • Zambia parliamentary election results 2001 55 • Botswana parliamentary election results, 1965-1999 56 • Election results in Lesotho, 1965-2002 57 • Zimbabwe parliamentary election results, 2000 58 • Mozambique’s election results, 1999 60 • South Africa’s election results, 1999 61 • Women in parliament in the SADC region 61 • Allocation of seats on the basis of the new MMP system, Lesotho 2002 63 • Satisfaction with the fairness and equality of the present electoral system 83 • The electoral system and political accountability 84 • Fairness and equality of the present electoral system (by race) 86 • View on the electoral system and political accountability (by race) 87 • Desire to vote in 2004 88 • Importance of elections 88 • Responsiveness of parliamentarians 88 • Responsiveness of members of provincial assemblies 88 • The meaning of voting 90 • Individuals and independent candidates versus political parties 92 • Individuals and independent candidates versus political parties (by race) 93 • Localised versus centralised control of political parties I 93 • Localised versus centralised control of political parties II 93 • Localised versus centralised control of political parties (by race) 94 • Individual autonomy versus internal discipline in political parties 94 • Individual autonomy versus internal discipline in political parties (by race) 95 • Representation versus efficiency in legislatures 96 • Representation versus efficiency in legislatures (by race) 96 • Direct election of the president 97 viii ELECTORAL MODELS FOR SOUTH AFRICA: REFLECTIONS AND OPTIONS • Direct election of the president (by race) 97 • Presence of women in parliament 97 • Should parties be required to nominate more women? 98 • Determinants of evaluations of the equality and fairness of 100 current electoral system (A) • Determinants of evaluations of the political accountability 101 produced by the current electoral system (B) • Determinants of likely voting behaviour in 2004 (C) 102 • PR electoral system components 124 • Combining number of ballots and the constituency structure 126 • How the current South African system scores 127 • Comparing South Africa and Denmark 128 • Comparing Germany and The Netherlands 129 • Seat allocation under the present electoral system 133 List of abbreviations ACDP African Christian Democratic Party AEB Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging ANC African National Congress AU African Union AV Alternative vote AZAPO Azanian People’s Organisation BCP Basutoland Congress Party BDP Botswana Democratic Party BNP Basutoland National Party CCM Chama Cha Mapinduzi CODESA Convention for a Democratic South Africa Contralesa Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa Cosatu The South African Council of Trade Unions DA Democratic Alliance DP Democratic Party DRC Democratic Republic of Congo EA Enumerator Area EC Electoral Commission EISA Electoral Institute of Southern Africa ETT Electoral Task Team FA Federal Alliance FF Freedom Front FPTP First-Past-The-Post FRELIMO Frente de Libertação de Moçambique HSRC Human Sciences Research Council IDASA Institute for Democratic Alternatives for South Africa IEC Independent Electoral Commission IFP Inkatha Freedom Party KAF Konrad Adenauer Foundation LCD Lesotho Congress for Democracy MDC Movement for Democratic Change MEC Member of the Executive Committee MMC Multi-member constituencies MMD Movement for Multi-Party Democracy MMM Mouvement Militant Mauricien MMP Mixed member proportionality x ELECTORAL MODELS FOR SOUTH AFRICA: REFLECTIONS AND OPTIONS MP Member of Parliament MPL Member of the Provincial Legislature MPLA Movimente Popular de Libertação de Angola MSM Mouvement Socialiste Mauricien NCOP National Council of Provinces NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development NGO Non-governmental organisation NNP New National Party NP National Party OAU Organisation of African Unity PAC Pan Africanist Congress PR Proportional representation SABC South African Broadcasting Corporation SACP South African Communist Party SACOB South African Chamber of Business SADC Southern African Development Community SAPES Southern Africa Political Economy Series SMC Single-member constituency SMM Single-member majority SMP Single-member plurality SPPF Seychelles People’s Progressive Front STV Single transferable vote SNTV Single non-transferable vote SWAPO South West Africa People’s Organisation TBVC Transkei, Bophutatswana, Venda and Ciskei TRC Truth and Reconciliation Commission UCDP United Christian Democratic Party UDF United Democratic Front UDM United Democratic Movement UK United Kingdom UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNECA United Nations Economic Commission for Africa UNISA University of South Africa UNITA União Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola US United States ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African National Union Popular Front. Preface ELECTIONS ARE THE GROSS MANIFESTATION OF CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS. IN A democratic society the electorate is regularly requested to vote for those they believe best represent their interests and ideals. The normative framework in which this vote is cast, the electoral system, may well decide on the transformation of a single vote into a governing majority. Any electoral system must therefore have wide approval in its respective society. To achieve this goal, consultation and interaction with those representing various opinions, interests and beliefs on the matter become essential,