Will independents really make a difference?

On Freedom Day, I was invited to attend a lunch in honour of Zackie Achmat. Zackie is one of the candidates who has declared that he will stand as an independent in the national elections next year. 

This is of course the first time that we will have independent candidates -as distinct from political parties - running in the national and provincial elections. This was made possible by an amendment to the Electoral Act following a Constitutional Court judgement. 

Without doubt, this can only be a good thing for democracy. However, the political parties have tried their utmost to make it very difficult for these candidates to succeed. 

For example, to be eligible to stand, a candidate must get signatures (with ID numbers and addresses) from registered voters amounting to 15% of the quota for the comparable previous election. This means that every candidate must get more than 6000 signatures. In comparison, political parties already serving in the legislature only have to get 1000 signatures. New parties will be treated like an independent and must meet the higher requirement.   

It is not yet clear what the deposit will be for independent candidates to register, but if it is as high as the amount political parties pay, it will be prohibitive for most people. 

There are many other problems with the act, such as that once a candidate has received sufficient votes to win a seat, any excess votes will be discarded. This is not the case for political parties. 

These and other issues form the basis of a court case now challenging the Amendment Act. 

However, apart from the difficulties of getting elected to parliament, the question I believe many voters will ask is what effect one person can have amidst the giant machinery of 400 parliamentarians. 

Julius Malema famously remarked earlier this year that parliament is difficult and a very boring place when you are alone. This is true. 

Parliament works on the basis of proportionality. Numbers count – big time. For example, the number of seats a party occupies determines how much speaking time is allocated to that party during debates. It also determines how many questions each party may ask of ministers and the president. 

In addition, smaller parties with fewer members find it very difficult to make an impact in the portfolio committees. Currently, ANC MPs each serve on only one portfolio committee and can thus focus their time and energy on that committee. In the case of smaller parties, their members often serve on several committees making attendance and meaningful contributions difficult. 

Unlike in the post-1994 era when politicians worked mostly on consensus, the majority party now tends to use their majority to push through legislation and resolutions – which means that it is very difficult for opposition parties to do much more than register their disagreement. 

As Malema also rightly pointed out, even when opposition parties propose some good ideas, they rarely pass.  

So, would an independent candidate be able to make any difference? 

The answer is a bit of a ‘Ja-nee.’ 

Undoubtedly, it will be an uphill battle for any independent candidate but let’s not forget the gigantic role played by Helen Suzman in the old apartheid parliament. For 13 of her 36 years in parliament, she was the only voice opposing apartheid. She was deeply hated and feared in equal measure by the almost exclusively male MPs who were of course also white, yet we know that she played a very significant role during those years. Not only did she consistently expose and challenge the National Party’s policies and atrocities, but she also used her position to improve conditions for prisoners on Robben Island. 

More recently, Alexandra Octavio-Cortes has played a blinder in the House of Representatives in America. Like Helen Suzman, she uses her office to fearlessly raise issues on behalf of women, the poor and the environment – issues that are more often than not ignored by the Washington political elite.

Herein lies the crux of the matter: a parliamentary seat comes with enormous power that can be used for good if the MP chooses to do so. The letterhead and business card opens doors and draws attention. This is what independents will have to use to make a difference.  

In addition, by using the press effectively and joining forces with other independent MPs as well as smaller parties, they can leverage more power. 

It is also important to remember that although parliament itself is important, it is only a part of any politician’s work.  Some of the most useful and rewarding work they can do is to serve their constituents and address their concerns.  This they can easily do as independents. 

It is important that the voices of constituents are brought back to our various legislatures. During the post-1994 years, communities and organisations were heard on an almost daily basis in parliament. Sadly, little of that is left today.  

In Zackie Ahmat’s case for example, he has extensive connections – most probably more than anyone else in this country - among various activists and social movements. If elected, he will therefore be able to ensure that these voices are brought to committee hearings and through engagements with MPs. 

Lastly, it is worthwhile remembering that as coalitions become more of a reality, the various parties might need the support of independent MPs. This will give them enormous leverage to negotiate deals and concessions for their constituents. 

I look forward to the new dispensation we are entering next year. The independents might not make a gigantic difference when it comes to the overall political landscape, but their voices will be a welcome change in the otherwise stale and - in the word of Malema - increasingly boring world of politics.