Political parties and civil society organisations are calling for South Africans to have a greater say on how the country is run. This call is given more weight by the recent judgement by the Constitutional Court which
declared the Electoral Act to be unconstitutional. The Concourt has found that the legislation strips citizens of the right not to affiliate themselves to a political party. In light of this , leaders who are calling for change such as One South Africa Movement founder Mmusi Maimane, Christian marketplace leader Dr Michael Louis and COPE leader Mosiuo Lekota have launched a new Direct Election Bill. The draft electoral bill aims to serve the interests of every South African, particularly those who remain marginalised, neglected and increasingly alienated from the politics of the day. This is to ensure the direct elections of accountable community leaders to Parliament. To unpack this and more Udo Carelse spoke to William Gumede, Associate Professor at the School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand and Executive Chairperson of Democracy Works Foundation