Staff Reporter.
In a historic development for transparency and accountability in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has determined that the Political Party Funding Act will come into operation on 1 April 2021.
This comes after the President 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 establishes funds to provide political parties represented in Parliament and legislatures with funding to undertake their work. It also requires that donations be disclosed by parties and donors to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), “the Presidency said in a statement on Friday.
The Act prohibits donations to parties by foreign governments or agencies, foreign persons or entities, organs of state or state-owned enterprises. Parties may, however, receive funding from foreign entities for training, skills development or policy development.
The Act states that no member of a political party may receive a donation other than for political party purposes.
“The implementation of the Political Party Funding Act will have far-reaching consequences for good governance and ethical political activity. It will strengthen the confidence of citizens in the democratic political process and enable them to assert their right to information, “said the Presidency.
At the same time, through the establishment of the Represented Political Party Fund, which provides public funding to parties, and the Multi-Party Democracy Fund, which funds parties from private sources, the Act seeks to ensure that all represented political parties receive sufficient funds for their work in a fair and equitable manner.
The commencement of the Political Party Funding Act on 1 April 2021 is part of the commitment of this administration to improving transparency and accountability in government.
The Presidency said the Act reinforces initiatives like the online publication of all COVID-related contracts of all government departments and public entities, with plans underway to expand this approach to all areas of government procurement.
“This commitment to transparency is also evident, for example, in the process which led to the appointment of the new National Director of Public Prosecutions, and in the publication of the Minister’s performance agreements,” reads the statement.
Ramaphosa in the statement commends the IEC, the Department of Home Affairs, Members of Parliament, leaders of political parties and other stakeholders for the extensive preparatory work required to bring this legislation into operation.
He called on all parties to work together and with the IEC to ensure the effective implementation of this law.
Meanwhile the Electoral Commission (IEC) has welcomed the signing of a proclamation on the commencement of the Political Party Funding Act Ramaphosa.
In a statement, the IEC said the coming into effect of the legislation from 1 April 2021 coincides with the start of a new financial year for the public sector and political parties.
“The implementation of the Act is one of the most important and far-reaching enhancements to our electoral democracy in the past 25 years,” reads the statement.
The IEC said the Act will contribute significantly to increased transparency, good governance and access to information which will ultimately enhance the credibility of the electoral process.
The Electoral Commission will next week publish the final regulations for the Act as part of the final phase of preparing for implementation.
Further details of the next steps will also be announced next week.
Announcing the proclamation, the Presidency said the implementation of the Political Party Funding Act will have far-reaching consequences for good governance and ethical political activity. It will strengthen the confidence of citizens in the democratic political process and enable them to assert their right to information.