Municipal elections a chance to scrutinise electoral system

THIS year, South Africa is going to have local government elections.

- YONELA TOSHE-MLAMBO.

Local government elections are a sacrosanct aspect of our liberal constitutional democracy. This is because local representatives are ideally ought to be easily accessible to their constituents.However, enough ink has been spilled arguing about what ought to happen versus what is happening. It is imperative that South Africans understand our electoral system, lest they be subjected to politicians’ verminous manipulation.

In 2024, South Africa held general elections and the ANC received 40.1% nationally. The party lost control of their majority in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. This necessitated a government of national and provincial unity.

As far as KZN is concerned, and for politicians’ convenience, they argue that the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) should be governing the province.

Nevertheless, that’s not the case, unfortunately. This is because South Africa is not using a first-past-the-post electoral system. Instead, the country uses a proportional representational system.