THE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND WARD SYSTEM: WORKING TOGETHER

Metropolitan councils and local councils big enough to have wards have found that there are many advantages in the combined ward/proportional representation system.

THE ADVANTAGES OF WARD COUNCILLORS

The direct election of ward councillors ensures that local government has a face. Ward councillors have been chosen by the majority of voters, and are directly accountable to voters. If citizens have complaints, they have someone that they can take these complaints to. If that councillor does not address people's genuine complaints properly, these people will not vote for them in the next election.

This direct accountability is very important. Local government is the sphere of government closest to citizens. By electing a ward councillor, citizens can see exactly how their votes translate into political power. They feel ownership over their councillors and thus over their council.

The direct election of candidates is unique to local government. In provincial and national elections people can only choose a political party, not an individual, to represent them.

The direct election of ward councillors also allows individuals who do not represent a political party, but who are competent leaders, to stand as independent candidates. Thus, municipalities can draw on the skills and experiences of all people who want to serve their fellow citizens, including those who have not found a home in any political party.

Government has found that the presence of independent candidates on councils is positive. They can help to move councils' focus away from inter-party politicking to social delivery.

THE NEED FOR PARTY COUNCILLORS

But this first-past-the-post, winner-takes-all system has drawbacks if it is the only system used. In some cases, the elections are very close. A candidate who wins by a few votes will get the seat, while the runner-up gets nothing.

In addition, if independent ward councillors dominated a council, these councillors' main concern would be for the people in their wards only. It would be hard for the council to reach consensus on many issues, or to look at the broader interests of the community as a whole.

A former district council councillor from the Eastern Cape government official, explains:

"The proportional representation system does work well. What is good about it is to rally all people, not only in the smaller pockets... You want to get as many people participating as possible in the broader process.

What happens in a ward system if you have a very strong ward with a councillor with a very strong personality and then a very weak one?

It is advisable to balance this out because you are looking for the overall development of the area, not just the pockets which are stronger or have more power."

The redistribution of resources from wealthier areas to townships would, for example, prove difficult as each councillor would only be thinking about his or her small ward rather than what would benefit the entire municipality.

While proportional representation councillors are not directly elected, voters know beforehand who they can expect to represent them. Before the election, political parties draw up lists of candidates and make the lists public. These lists are ordered, with the best candidates at the top. When you vote for a party, you know that the party will allocate the seats that it wins to the candidates at the top of the list.

The advantage of bringing in political parties is that they have members in different wards and they are committed to national policies. Thus, it would be very difficult for them to see ward concerns in isolation from municipal, provincial and even national concerns.

The proportional representation system also allows parties that are relatively popular, but not strong enough to win ward seats, to take part in local government. This inclusive approach contributes to stability in communities, as all parties with a decent support base are drawn into running the local councils.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION GOOD FOR GENDER EQUALITY

A study conducted after the 1995 local elections found that only 10,9 percent of ward councillors were women. In contrast, 28,7 percent of councillors elected to proportional representation seats were women.

Thus, a very significant benefit of the proportional representation system is that it ensures that more women get on to councils. Women are seldom nominated as ward candidates. This is both because of bias in favour of male candidates and women's reluctance to stand, often as a result of a lack of confidence.