Bosa to approach ConCourt over Electoral Amendment Act
Build One South Africa (Bosa) has rejected the Electoral Amendment Act in its current form due to discrepancies the party weighing against independent candidates.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the bill into law on Monday.
It will allow independent candidates to stand in provincial and national elections in 2024.
In June 2020, the Constitutional Court found the Electoral Act to be constitutionally invalid due to the fact that it prevents independent candidates to stand for political office.
On Wednesday, Bosa leader Mmusi Maimane said they will be joining other civil society groups to apply for direct access to the Constitutional Court next month.
"This bill favours national political parties, and it moves away that they be in charge rather than ultimately people being in charge by voting and holding those people to account. The bill means that after the votes are counted the proportional aspect of the votes only benefits the political parties not the communities that vote for them.
"The issues of citizens that the bill was designed to address as directed by the Constitutional Court are not being sufficiently directed and therefore it is important that we go back to the constitutional court to get clarity that this bill complies with the constitution and gives power back to the people."
The new law allows independent candidates to only contest for 200 seats in Parliament.
Maimane believes the bill was rushed and there was not enough public participation.
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