DA Bill on referendums now open for public comment
The DA’s notice to introduce a Private Members’ Bill (PMB) to amend the Electoral Commission Act, and repeal the Referendums Act has officially been published in the Government Gazette for public comment.
The notice can be accessed here and copy of the draft Bill can be accessed here.
The PMB seeks to give effect to the constitutional powers of Premiers to call a provincial referendum.
We invite South Africans to submit written representations to the Speaker of the National Assembly at [email protected] within the next 30 days.
This Bill highlights the DA’s commitment to achieving greater devolution of powers to Provinces, in line with the Constitution. As things stand, Electoral Commission Act and Referendums Act allows for only the President to call a referendum and does not provide for a Premier to call for a referendum in a province.