Cape Board puts democracy into action with new polling process

Few communal organisations are such sticklers for democratic elections as the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD or Cape Board), which is once again conducting a poll to ensure energy and diversity in this communal body.

“The Cape SAJBD gives its members the platform to be heard on social issues facing the community and the opportunity to guide the values, responses and strategies the board develops,” says Tyla Dallas, the Cape SAJBD’s electoral operations officer.

“It ensures that Jewish life and the Jewish way of life is protected, respected and promoted,” Dallas says. “Similar to its national body, it engages with civil society and local government to advance the rights and interests of the community, leveraging off members who bring a wealth of institutional and communal knowledge. One of its core mandates is to confront antisemitism and promote interfaith and intercommunal relations based on mutual understanding and respect.”

Dallas says the polling process is the result of a commission of enquiry a few years back and revisions to the constitution after complaints from candidates and the public were sent in to the Cape Board following the 2017 Cape Board elections.

“One of the most important recommendations was that a commission be set up to review the structure of the organisation’s constitution and possibly re-draft it. A new constitution was passed in February 2020, which led to a process that includes both a public and an affiliate ballot. It avoids the possibility of the board being made up of the same people year in, year out, and the perceived limited opportunity for “fresh blood” and divergent ideas, Dallas says. Nominees can’t stand for election on the public ballot if they have served on the board in the past five years, which enables fresh leadership.

Five people are elected by public ballot, and another 10 are elected by organisations affiliated to the board, like schools and shuls, at the Cape SAJBD’s annual general meeting in September. Together, this makes up the new board of 15 members which serves for two years (2022 to 2024).

To stand for nomination, to nominate or to vote for the public ballot, you need to be over 18, living in the Western Cape, and registered on the communal database. Two people need to support the nomination. “We called for people who have a passion for the Jewish community, integrity, are looking to make a meaningful difference in the community and wider society, and challenge the status quo,” says Dallas.

However, this time, “by deadline, there were too few nominations, and so the time period was extended for 10 days as required by the board’s constitution”, Dallas says. “The new nomination period ended on Tuesday, 5 July, with five public ballot nominees and 11 affiliate ballot nominees. As the minimum number of nominees [five] were received for the public ballot, those nominees standing on the public ballot would automatically be elected onto the board.”

Dallas says she’s not sure why only five were nominated this year, “whether it be plain apathy about standing, or that many already serve on multiple other communal boards and committees and so have little spare time”.

“Either way, we want to find out how best we can overcome these challenges and get the community around our board table,” she says. Dallas says all nominees on the public ballot have to be Jewish, live in the Western Cape, and have a passion for the local Jewish community.

“Our nominees have varying jobs, backgrounds and communal involvement. This year, they include the non-executive chairperson of Cullinan Financial Services, Michael Barr; hospitality investment group owner Lynton Cassel; Beck Family Estates Group Trustee Elresia (Rivkah) Myburgh; media veteran and author Vanessa Raphaely; and bereavement counsellor Belinda Silbert, who was also the first South African-born woman to be ordained as a rabbi outside of the reform movement.

The affiliate organisations’ chosen representatives would have to be an office bearer past or present in the organisation, have their name on the UJC’s communal database, and not represent more than one affiliate at any time. Those chose delegates will then vote on behalf of the affiliates at the AGM.

At the first board meeting after the election, the chairperson, two vice-chairpersons and a treasurer are elected from the 15 new sitting board members.

“All meetings of the board aim to take decisions by consensus, but where this isn’t possible, the matter must be put to a vote,” Dallas says.

“Making a difference requires getting involved in your community and its institutions,” says Dallas. “The Cape SAJBD’s biennial election is your chance to get involved in communal democracy and make sure your voice is represented.”