Political Parties Set to Declare their Funders from April

Written by Mfundo on 22 January, 2021

By: Mfundo Mabaso

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a historic political party funding act into operation.

Ramaphosa signed a Proclamation on the Commencement of the Political Party Funding Act, 2018 (Act no. 6 of 2018), which regulates public and private funding of political parties.

The Act requires that donations be disclosed by parties and donors to the Independent Electoral Commission.

In a statement, the Presidency states that this Act also prohibits donations to parties by foreign governments or agencies, foreign persons or entities, organs of state or state-owned enterprises.

“The implementation of the Political Party Funding Act will have far-reaching consequences for good governance and ethical political activity. Through the establishment of the Represented Political Party Fund, the Act seeks to ensure that all represented political parties receive sufficient funds for their work in a fair and equitable manner,” the Presidency explains.

Meanwhile Political Analyst, Professor Bheki Mngomezulu, says as much as this Act is a good move, but it will have a negative impact on smaller parties.