Module 4
Module 4
Module 4
• By Birth
• By Descent
• By Naturalization
• By Registration
Citizenship C’td
By Birth
……Any person born in South Africa, with at least one South African
parent or at least one parent who was a SA citizen OR a South African
permanent resident.
Citizenship C’td
By Descent
This section applies to a British Citizen who lived in South Africa for at
least two years immediately prior to 2 September 1949
The Right to Vote
Which South Africans Have the Right to Vote ?
• South African Citizens
• Citizens over the age of 18
• Must be registered on the Voter’s Roll
• Must have ID document
• Must be a permanent resident of SA
• Child of a citizen from before new constitution and now a permanent resident
• Person in country since 31 December 1978
• Person not affected by any disqualifications
Disqualification from Voting
Who may not Qualify to Vote ?
• Illegal immigrants
• Person declared of unsound mind/mentally disturbed by a court
• Person who has been put in an institution for the mentally insane
• Person serving a prison sentence without option of a fine
• Person who has incurred a heavy fine or imprisonedafter been proven
guilty of illegal action negatively influencing the voting system.
• Child of a citizen from before new constitution and now a permanent
resident
Elections
Elections are held every 5 Years. Date of elections is published in the government
gazette between 60 – 90 days before the elections.
• A meeting place for people who share same values & think the same
• To influence and change the opinion of the electorate
• To win votes & elections in order to become the majority party
Political Parties C’td
Advantages of Political Parties
• People (electorate) have the opportunity to express themselves in an
organised way.
• Can bring positive change in society
• Can give electorate information to make informed choices
• Can bring new people into the electoral system as voters
• Can make and keep promises to make people’s lives better
• Political parties that do not win can be watchdogs of the majority
party to ensure they do thing properly
Political Parties C’td
• As a political party gains power they are forced to keep in touch with
the electorate.
Political Parties C’td
Disadvantages of Political Parties
• The most competent/best people in the party may not be elected.
• Political parties sometimes forget the promises they made to the
electorate
• Political campaigning with all its fancy words & advertising can make
the electorate choose wrong people
• Political parties sometimes step out of their core business and interfere
in things that are not their business like religion, culture, sports &
various social matters
• Popularity of candidates does not mean they are the best people.
Administration of Elections
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) administers elections.
The Tasks of the IEC is ?
• To administer, organise, supervise & conduct all elections.
• To take steps to prevent intimidation of voters, candidates & parties.
• To educate the electorate about democratic principles & values, the
electoral process, the right to free & fair elections.
• To submit monthly reports.
• To hear appeals & make decisions about deviations
• To declare results of elections
Voting (Electoral Systems) Systems
In this system every voter in their constituency (the local area they live
in e.g. Ward 46) to elect on individual person. In this system the winner
of this vote becomes a Member of Parliament (MP). The political party
with the most MPs in parliament will form the government of the
country.
The MP holds the seat in Parliament/Government, not the political
party they belong to. This system is used in the United States of
America, Canada & New Zealand.
Voting (Electoral Systems) Systems C’td
Multi-Party Proportional Representation System
In this system the electorate in a large country will vote for political
parties and the ideologies (principles) the parties stand for. The party
will decide which individual in the party will become MPs. Each party
receives a number of seats in parliament proportional to the
percentage of votes they received (the majority votes get most seats in
parliament).
Voting (Electoral Systems) Systems C’td
A voting station is a place where people cast their vote. These are
usually schools or community halls well-known to the local community.