South Africa\u2019s National Assembly passed amendments to the nation\u2019s electoral laws, including changes to how government funding for political parties is allocated, a move that could trigger court challenges and the delay of the 29 May voting date \u2014 although a legal expert considers that unlikely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Electoral Matters Amendment Bill was initially aimed at providing state support to independent candidates who can contest provincial and national votes for the first time but also envisages changes to the formula used to disperse money to parties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An increased share will go to the biggest ones, meaning the ruling African National Congress will be the main beneficiary while smaller rivals will lose out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill will now be referred to the National Council of Provinces for approval and then referred to President Cyril Ramaphosa to sign into law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will wait for the NCOP to adopt it, then we will approach the president not to sign it,\u201d Corne Mulder, the chief whip for the opposition Freedom Front Plus, said by text message. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf he does, then we will go to court.\u201d The Inkatha Freedom Party, the country\u2019s fourth-largest, expects the vote to be postponed should there be a legal challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want a delay to the elections, but it looks like we will have no choice,\u201d said Liezl van der Merwe, the IFP\u2019s chief whip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawson Naidoo, executive secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, sees a low risk of the vote not proceeding as planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe courts are loath to issue an interdict to postpone elections,\u201d he said. Secondly, I don\u2019t think the issue of funding is critical to this election.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n