IEC: “All systems go!” For The Political Party Funding Act

THE Electoral Commission has announced that the Political Party Funding Act will come into operation from Thursday, April 1.

The Political Party Funding Act has been widely described by legal, constitutional and political experts as a huge boost for the consolidation of democracy in South Africa.

Early in January, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a Proclamation on the Commencement of the Political Party Funding Act, 2018 (Act no. 6 of 2018), which is aimed at regulating public and private funding of political parties.

The commission said on Thursday that the implementation of the act will introduce a new era of transparency within South Africa’s electoral democracy, mandating all political parties to disclose donations above R100,000.

It said the Act also sets restrictions on sources of funding for political parties including outlawing donations by government departments, state-owned entities and foreign governments and agencies.

Parties may however receive funding from foreign entities for training,