Money & Politics: Justice Committee Adopts Political Party Funding Records Bill

Riyaz Patel

The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services today adopted the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) Amendment Bill which provides for the recording of funding of political parties.

The Bill obliges the head of a political party (including independent candidates) to keep records of any donation exceeding the prescribed threshold that has been made to that political party; the identity of the persons or entities who made such donations; make the records available on a quarterly basis as prescribed; and store the records for a period of at least five years.

Chairperson, Bulelani Magwanishe, said the Committee ensured in the Bill that it provides for any registered political party as defined in the Electoral Act, irrespective of whether it has representation in the national, provincial or local government, to keep records and provide such records.

“All submissions, irrespective of oral or written, were taken into account.