The Case for Sortition: Tackling the Limitations of Democracy in South Africa

ABSTRACT

This article considers how the erosion of democracy in South Africa since 1994 might be addressed through sortition, the random selection of citizens to perform public tasks. Drawing upon the recent essay outlining the case Against Elections by David Van Reybrouck [(2016). Against Elections: The Case for Democracy. London: Bodley Head], which paints liberal democracy as facilitating rule by elites, it argues for the appointment of sortition panels to consider reform of the electoral system. Sortition in South Africa could draw upon streams of participatory democracy experienced during the struggle against apartheid, and lead towards a more deliberative democracy.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 There was a short interim Presidency of Kgalema Motlanthe following Thabo Mbeki’s ejection by the ANC from the Presidency in September 2008 and Zuma’s succession after the April 2009 general election.

2 The ANC’s proportion of the popular vote declined from its peak of 69.7% in the general election of 2004 to 62.1% in 2014. This fell further to 53.3% in the local government elections of 2016, with the consequence that it lost control of three major ‘metros’ in Johannesburg, Tshwane (Pretoria) and Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth). Meanwhile, the percentage turnout of the voting age population at general elections has declined from 86.0% in the 1994 general election to just 57.1% in 2014.

3 Referenda may live up to their purpose of deepening democracy. In California, for instance, referenda are a regular feature of political life, being held either because the state legislature refers questions to voters at election times, or 5% of voters petition for the repeal of particular laws. On the other hand, referenda can often be abused. Many would argue that the Brexit vote in mid-2016, on whether Britain should leave the European Union, was a case in point. The debate leading up to the referendum (which was called to resolve a festering division within the ruling Conservative party) was characterised by massive manipulation of information by elites, notably by those wanting to leave the EU. Some cite the campaign as illustrating the perils of a ‘post-truth’ society (Stirling 2016).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation (South Africa).