United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa believes that South Africa must be demarcated in terms of constituency, saying the proportional representation (PR) system does not allow those represented to be held to account.

Holomisa was speaking exclusively with Polity, where he said if given the mandate to govern after the 2024 elections, his party would advocate for a mixed system, that included a PR system and the introduction of a constituency-based system to “replace the confusion” done by the African National Congress (ANC) government by not allowing the introduction of a constituency-based system.

“Let the voters choose their own MP and vote for that MP, whether it is a member of the ANC or another party, but let us introduce a constituency-based system,” he said.

The UDM believes the country’s purely PR system renders the electorate “toothless” as parliamentarians are not held accountable should they not perform.

He suggested that the election for the President ought to be direct too.

He highlighted that the current President of the country was only elected by 3 500 delegates in the ANC conference and that individuals are forced onto South Africans as people vote for a party.

“Yes, let any person who wants to be a President stand there and campaign and say they want to be President and the people vote for a President, not for a party. [The] party goes to a boardroom and choses a President for us, it is not on,” he said.

CORRUPTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

Meanwhile, Holomisa said that if the UDM came to power, his party would table the Zondo Commission findings, and use them as a guideline to restore dignity. The UDM also pledges to invest in crime intelligence, while also ensuring that it cleans up law enforcement agencies, "for investment to flow".

He noted that some law enforcement agencies have been implicated in corrupt activities.

He pointed out that investors would not come to South Africa if security was weak, noting that South Africa was viewed as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

He said this perception must change.

Holomisa explained that his party would ensure it restored law and order, while educating people to be responsible and to report crime in their areas. He said that once investors saw that there was stability and policy certainty investments would flow.

He noted that since 1994 South Africa has never had a consensus on what kind of macro-economic policy should be followed, saying it was necessary that the situation be stabilised quickly to encourage investment.

The UDM was of the view that it was necessary to establish a Crime Prevention Ministry to bring the ministries of justice, police, correctional services, defence and national intelligence under one umbrella, with Holomisa noting that there was a lack of coordination amongst law enforcement agencies.

“Police would arrest someone who has raped a women, the following day this person is back in the community. The next thing this individual can easily kill the potential witnesses and you will find that the police are demoralised because the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] are doing a different exercise. We need a stronger department to coordinate this issues in the NPA right now,” he said.

He said the country must have special court, competent NPA officials and competent investigators.