Erstwhile South African public protector, Thuli Madonsela has expressed a lack of interest to contest election for parliament.
Speculations in the media had promoted Thuli Madonsela as a candidate for parliament. However, Madonsela has said she does not fancy the job at the moment.
In a chat with Sunday Times after the order for parliament to amend the Electoral Act to pave way for independent citizens to run for general elections outside the party-political lists by Constitutional Court, in South Africa, Madonsela posited the judgement would aid eradicate the arrogance of political office holders.
Madonsela urged parliament to utilize the opportunity to implement the 17 years old recommendations of Van Zyl Slabbert commission report which had been ignored for ages.
She is quoted to have said, “I have no ambition to go into public office at this stage. I believe there are enough leaders, particularly among young people, to deliver on the constitutional promise, particularly on democratic governance, social justice and the rule of law.
“I see the judgment as narrowing the space for the arrogance that comes with political monopoly. I also see it igniting interest and passion for democracy leadership and literacy among young people, knowing that they can make a difference through entering politics as independent candidates if necessary”.
Zwelinzima Vavi the General secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unios (Saftu) said he was contemplating contesting 2014 elections as an independent candidate.
He said, “As an independent … I would think about it, if they amend it and it includes the constituency-based system to be a mixture with the PR [proportional representation system], that would make a very interesting proposition. I would think about it.”
Source: timeslive.co.za