21 April 2025

Strengthening our democracy through support for Parliament and the IEC local government elections

The year 2026 marks a significant phase in our constitutional democracy as we celebrate 30 years since the adoption of our constitution in 1996.

Our constitution set a path for a constitutional democratic state that protects the human rights of all South Africans and embeds the principles and values of the Freedom Charter. Our history as a nation is one of colonialism and apartheid, which excluded the black majority from participating in the polity and governance of the country. As we celebrate 30 years of our constitution, we will hold our 2026 local government elections, which give expression to the aspirations of the people, as espoused in the Freedom Charter, which declared that the people shall govern. Our journey in local government has brought about transformation in our communities. Our constitution further embeds the right of all citizens to participate in deciding a local councillor to represent the interests of the community in local governance. Local Government is a sphere of government closest to the people, responding to the most basic needs such as sanitation, housing, water, roads and planning local development. The ANC is currently focused on ensuring measures are implemented to fix local government. It is important that all eligible voters take an interest in local governance.

The Special Appropriation Bill we are considering supports the exercise of this fundamental democratic right of all citizens to vote. As a nation, we must take pride in the fact that the independent electoral commission has conducted free and fair elections in our country. The allocation of R1,1 billion for the IEC is critical to ensure that the IEC conducts a successful local government election this year. As a country, we have been experiencing a decline in confidence in democratic practices, as reflected in the decline of voter registration percentages and voter turnout on election day. As public representatives of the people, it is an indictment on all of us, and as a parliament and members from political parties and the IEC, we have a duty to ensure civic awareness and promote and encourage the participation of all eligible South Africans to participate in elections. The ANC is committed to democratic principles, and we will mobilise our people in all wards and in all voting districts and in all streets. We further call on South Africans to remember that our right to vote was born out of the blood of the black oppressed South Africans

Another critical allocation from the Special Appropriation Bill is funds for the rebuilding of Parliament. The project of rebuilding the Parliament is about our heritage and providing adequate facilities to ensure an accessible and well-functioning Parliament. The impact of the burning of the Parliament has resulted in major financial implications and also impacted the functioning of the Parliament. The allocated funds will go a long way to ensure the project is completed in a timely manner. The Parliament that is being rebuilt should serve as a source of pride for coming generations.

As the ANC, through the Standing Committee on the financial management of Parliament, we will ensure that the administration of Parliament and the Speaker are held accountable for allocated funds in a manner that improves the impact of Members of Parliament. Support for constituency work is another key area which requires all Members of Parliament from different political parties to stay in contact with the people to ensure this house becomes a true tribune of the people.

Furthermore, the Special Appropriations Bill provides an allocation to assist political parties represented in Parliament. For our democracy to work, our political parties should have the resources to function as they are the drivers of inputs to the work of Parliament. If political parties are not resourced to function, this weakens our democracy.

A functional and impactful Parliament requires adequate resources and support for members of Parliament. As Parliament, our capabilities should enable adequate execution of constitutional obligations based on empirical evidence and robust public participation to consolidate the voice of South Africans. The 2 billion allocations will enhance our democracy and the responsiveness of Parliament as an arm of the State.

South Africa is committed to participating in various multilateral organisations, such as the World Bank, which also serves as a source and support system for our national resource mobilisation efforts, such as concessional funding and other support. Multilateral financial institutions enhance international cooperation and enable the learning of global best practices and peer learning. The special appropriation bill allocates funds for shares in the World Bank, the hone our ability to participate in global platforms.

The ANC supports this special appropriation as it advances key imperatives of the Government of National Unity and supports institutions supporting our democracy.