South Africa

South Africa and International IDEA

South Africa is one of the founding members of IDEA. IDEA maintains an office in Pretoria, South Africa.

South Africa, a List Proportional Representation democracy, has worked with IDEA since its formation in 1995 and provides funding to the overall work of the Institute.

A large part of IDEA’s funding comes from its member states “core contributions”, which finance the entire work programme of the Institute: Programme of Operations 2007-09. Each of IDEA’s member states is therefore involved and instrumental in IDEA’s work to promote democracy worldwide.

Highlights of International IDEA’s activities in relation to South Africa:

• BRIDGE project training in Pretoria, South Africa held in English, French, and Portuguese.
• “Dialogue for Constitutional Reform”, a major inter-regional South South seminar held in Pretoria, South Africa in December 2005 with the participation of experts from 26 Asian, African, and Latin American countries. It marked a key step towards the building of a global network of experts on inclusive constitution-building.

In addition, South Africa has collaborated with IDEA on publications such as:

• The Implementation of Quotas: African Experiences, a report examining women’s political representation on the African continent, showing how quotas have contributed to increasing women’s access to political power.

Friends of International IDEA

Dr Brigalia Bam, Chairperson of South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission and former General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, is currently serving as a member of the IDEA Board of Directors.

Former IDEA Board member: Ms Cheryl Carolus, High Commissioner for the Republic of South Africa in London, UK.

Facts and figures about democracy in South Africa

Using IDEA’s worldwide democracy and elections databases, learn more about:

• South Africa’s electoral system (ACE),  ESD (Table of Electoral Systems Worldwide)
• Comparative data on election systems, laws, management and administration
• Voter turnout in South Africa 1994 – 2004
• Information on electoral quotas for women in South Africa
  
• Laws on funding of political parties in South Africa