Home Affairs Minister dares ‘naysayers’ to challenge new Electoral Amendment Bill in court

Johnathan Paoli

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has called on naysayers to legally challenge the recently passed Electoral Matters Amendment Bill.

The Bill was passed in the National Assembly on Tuesday, following an ANC-EFF victory of 240 votes against 90 from the opposition.

The Bill is a sequel to the Electoral Amendment Act that was passed last year to provide for independent candidates to stand for election in national and provincial legislatures, and provides for the regulation of the private and public funding of independent candidates and independent representatives, among other matters.

The Minister said the proposed funding formula would change the allocation from two-thirds proportional and one-third equitable to 90% and 10% respectively.

Motsoaledi said the necessary amendments to five acts catering solely for political parties was due to the proliferation and facilitation of the election of independent candidates.

“Most of the amendments are technical. When it comes to