Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee seeking common ground on changes to the Electoral Bill

Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee dealing with amendments to the Electoral Bill is trying to find common ground on changes that need to be made to the bill.

One of the sticking points is whether independent candidates can contest elections in multiple regions. Parliament has just a few months left to finalise the bill and send it to President Cyril Ramaphosa for assent before the December 6th deadline.

A range of issues including deposits to be paid by candidates, the number of seats an independent can contest, and where exactly independents can contest are still under discussion. Parliament’s legal team is waiting for clarity from MP’s before it can start drafting the legislation.

MP’s are not in agreement about where exactly independents can contest. The IEC is assisting the committee in an advisory role and it has put its proposal on this matter on the table.

“In terms of the regional elections, you can contest any election. So, it shouldn’t matter which region you are registered in. However, there would be a registration requirement in relation to provincial requirements. In other words, you have to be registered on the provincial segment of the voters roll in the relevant provinces to contest the elections of a provincial legislature,” says Sy Mamabolo, IEC CEO.

Source: SABC

In other news – Good news for Kaya 959 listeners

Following months of rumours that radio duo Thomas Msengana and Skhumba Hlophe are leaving Kaya 959, it has finally been confirmed that they are not.

In a statement shared with a local publication, Kaya 959 revealed that the duo will not be leaving the station, but have been given new time slots and a new show. Learn more