ACDP Shares IEC Concerns on "crossing-the-floor"

Steve Swart MP – ACDP

Tuesday, 18 June 2002

African Christian Democratic Party MP and spokesperson on Justice, Steve Swart this morning shared the IEC’s concerns regarding the practical difficulties envisaged with the implementation of the “crossing-the-floor” legislation, particularly on the local government level, as stated at the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee this morning.

Mr Swart stated that the IEC’s response confirmed the ACDP’s stance in opposing the package of legislation that it was, “ill considered, premature and amounted to gerrymandering of the Constitution.” Mr Swart said, “We are not opposing this legislation because we are concerned about losing members. On the contrary, we stand to gain as a growing party. As our member, Kent Durr, recently stated in the NCOP, we believe the amending legislation is wrong minded and that it is at best premature. The whole question on what basis members should be elected is currently under review perhaps to get closer to the German electoral system on which our constitution is largely based. We believe that what is proposed is tantamount to a gerrymandering of the constitution to serve the short-term desires of a particular political party.

We believe that if and when the Parliaments of our country are fully or partly constituted on a constituency basis, with directly elected members, whose names appear on the ballot paper, a new situation would arise: We are not there yet. Inasmuch as our system is currently a list system of proportional representation, we believe what is proposed in this Bill runs the risk of skewing the principle of proportionality, as set out in the constitution. “

Mr Swart was particularly concerned regarding the IEC’s comments that councillors wishing to “cross the floor” in the rural areas could be at personal risk. The IEC raised the question in the committee as to how these councillors would be protected.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For further comment please call Steve Swart MP at 083 285 6290 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 478 1037