DA to table Bill to allow for Premiers to call for referendums
11 June 2021
The DA is finalising a Private Members Bill (PMB) to amend the Referendums Act to give effect to the Constitutional powers of Premiers to call a provincial referendum.
This is part of the DA’s commitment to achieve significantly greater devolution of powers to Provinces, in line with the Constitution.
Section 84 of the Constitution provides for the President to call a national referendum. Section 127 provides for Premiers to call a provincial referendum, in terms of national legislation.
However, in its current form, the Referendums Act only allows for the President to call a referendum and does not provide for a Premier to call for a referendum in a province. The draft Bill, therefore, seeks to address this omission by an amendment enabling a Premier to exercise their Constitutional powers to call a provincial referendum, to ensure that provincial residents can make their voices heard on important issues.