The suggested scrapping of the floor-crossing law must be expanded to accommodate other electoral changes that will give voters a greater say in who their president will be, says United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.
Addressing a Women’s Day rally in Limpopo on Wednesday, Holomisa said even the poorest countries in the world have done away with the system applied in South Africa.
”They elect their presidents directly because it brings in further checks and balances to protect democracy. A president directly elected by the people, not solely chosen by a political party, would respond much quicker to serious allegations about millions of rands being channelled to the ruling party in arms deals, tax avoidance, oil deals etc,” he said.
He added it was this same lack of constituencies and accountability that had led to the situation where the people of Khutsong were ignored when the decision was taken to incorporate them into the North West against their will.
”These are the issues that the women, and indeed the entire nation, must debate. The women of this country must again join in the campaign to change the political landscape of this country for the better,” he said.
As long as the current system allows shadowy factions in the ruling party to manipulate the entire socio-economic framework of the country, one will never realise true equality and freedom for all men and women, no matter how good the Constitution, laws and policies which are in place, Holomisa added.
Referring to empowerment for women, Holomisa said the challenges remain immense.
”Just like has happened with BEE [black economic empowerment] in general, the empowerment of women has been the empowerment of a few. Whilst some of the few are women, it is still only the few that are benefiting whilst nothing has changed for the masses,” he said.
According to Holomisa, the same small group of people and families with ANC credentials seem to benefit repeatedly from major BEE deals. — Sapa