My Vote Counts
Statement of Founding Principles
“19. (1) Every citizen is free to make political choices, which includes the right1. to form a political party;
2. to participate in the activities of, or recruit members for, a political party; and
3. to campaign for a political party or cause.
(2) Every citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections for any legislative body
established in terms of the Constitution.
(3) Every adult citizen has the right 1. to vote in elections for any legislative body established in terms of the
Constitution, and to do so in secret; and
2. to stand for public office and, if elected, to hold office.”
1. We are an open, non-partisan community of citizens dedicated to advancing the
constitutional principles of transparency, inclusiveness and accountability in South
Africa.
2. We observe that South Africa’s current electoral system of closed-list proportional
representation was chosen by the drafters of the Constitution in order to cater for wide
political inclusivity, simplicity and power sharing. We acknowledge the success and
importance of these arrangements in ensuring a highly representative legislature.
3. However, we believe there is much room for improving the expression of these
founding principles in our democracy.
4. For example, in respect of inclusiveness, the current electoral system makes it
difficult, if not impossible, for citizens to stand for office as independents. In respect of
accountability, the current system of strict proportional representation, without
constituencies, makes members of parliament far more accountable to parties than to
voters. In respect of transparency, the current lack of transparency in party political
funding leaves political parties open to hidden influence by special interests.
5. We remember that the framers of our Constitution did not intend for the current
electoral arrangements to continue past the 1999 election. On 20 March 2002, Cabinet
appointed an Electoral Task Team, led by Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert, which drafted new
electoral legislation that specified a closed-list mixed constituency-proportional electoral
system. However, despite many calls for electoral reforms, these recommendations
were never implemented.
6. We note too that that there have been numerous calls for reform of political party
funding.
7. Bearing in mind this history, we are advocating two key reforms:
(i) We want a representative Parliament chosen by the people, not by political
parties; that is, a new electoral system with mixed constituency and proportional
representation that allows voters to choose our own MPs and allows independent
candidates to contest elections; and
(ii) We want comprehensive reform of the funding of political parties to make
them 100% open and transparent, responsive, proportionally and neutrally
funded to exclude any influence from special interests.
Openness and transparency means that parties must publish their full accounts publicly.
Responsive and proportional means that established parties can only receive money in
proportion to their support, to ensure that they are accountable to their members.
Neutrally funded means that either all funding should come from the state or that
external donations must be channeled in such a way that there can be no chance of
making politicians dependent on, or overly responsive to, such donations.
These provisions may need to be eased for new parties, small parties and
independents, to encourage new voices.
Funding Principles
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Our members shall pay a membership fee of ~R10 per person per year.
Individual members may contribute additional funds, up to a maximum of
R10,000 per person per year.
Donor funding shall be limited to R100,000 per organisation per year.
We shall accept no donations from corporates or non-South African entities.
No member contributing more than R1,000 may serve on MVC's organising
committee or staff for the year following the donation, but may volunteer for other
roles.
Funding and spending will be 100% open and transparent. All donations beyond
individual membership fees will be disclosed.