Reclaiming People’s Power Through Electoral Reforms

The document examines the decline of voter participation in South Africa, attributing it to a perceived lack of accountability and a disconnect between voting and service delivery. Based on workshops with 309 participants, it suggests moving toward direct representation and enhancing civic education to restore faith in the democratic process.

• Voter turnout in South Africa is significantly declining, with only 58.6% of registered voters participating in the 2024 national and provincial elections, meaning a quarter or less of the total voting-aged population determined the outcome.
• Voters increasingly perceive voting as a transaction for basic services or jobs rather than a civic duty for collective social change, leading to disillusionment when these transactional expectations are not met.
• There is widespread dissatisfaction with the closed list proportional representation system, as voters feel representatives are loyal to party leadership rather than the communities they serve.
• Workshop participants expressed a strong preference for direct representation, believing that voting for individuals they know personally would improve accountability and engagement.
• The 2024 introduction of independent candidates via the Electoral Amendment Act of 2023 faced practical barriers, including high participation thresholds and a lack of resources compared to established parties.
• There is a critical need for civic and voter education to combat misinformation and distrust toward the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), particularly regarding the mechanics of new electoral processes.
• Practical suggestions for increasing turnout and accessibility include implementing a hybrid voting system with online options, automatic voter registration for those over 18, and extending voting day to a voting week.

APA

Dooms, T. (2024). Reclaiming People’s Power Through Electoral Reforms. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PI-158-CNRP-Dooms-FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Dooms, Tessa. Reclaiming People’s Power Through Electoral Reforms. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2024. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PI-158-CNRP-Dooms-FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dooms |first1=Tessa |title=Reclaiming People’s Power Through Electoral Reforms |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=December 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PI-158-CNRP-Dooms-FINAL.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dooms2024reclaiming, author = {Dooms, Tessa}, title = {{Reclaiming People’s Power Through Electoral Reforms}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/PI-158-CNRP-Dooms-FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }