Political Party funding act Ramaphosa

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his speech to ANC members.
Image: Twitter @MyANC

ANC slammed for already wanting changes to Political Party Funding Act

Times are though ey?
The ANC wants changes to the Political Party Funding Act. The party is now getting an absolute roasting.

Political Party funding act Ramaphosa

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his speech to ANC members.
Image: Twitter @MyANC

The ANC has no money. That’s not a secret. The party’s staff members have been waiting for salaries on and off for months now. There have been protests, there have been go-slows. The ANC says it is all because of how “difficult” the Political Party Funding Act has made it to get in money. So now, the governing party is said to be wanting some changes to the act.

ANC not happy with Political Party Funding Act

According to reports, the party’s National Working Committee has recommended that it propose changes to the act. The ANC is said to want the R100 000 donation declaration limit increased to either R250 000 or R500 000. As it stands, every donation of more than R100 000 to a party has to be made public and declared to the IEC.

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Right now, a party can only receive R15 million per year from a single donor. The party reportedly wants that rule done away with too.

Civil rights group My Vote Counts is not too happy with the ANC. The group says the party’s stance is particularly disappointing, given the bill was originally celebrated by party leader Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The Act exists to enhance transparency, accountability, and the rights of ordinary people. It is, undoubtedly, one of the biggest improvements to our democracy since 1996. Political party attempts to amend the Act will, no doubt, see the grip that private capital has on our politics strengthened and expanded.”

My Vote Counts

Money over the people?

My Vote Counts is also criticising the DA for blaming the act for making it “difficult” to bring in donations.
The group insists that there are no good reason for relationships between parties and funders to be “shrouded in secrecy”.

So what should parties do to get more money? My Vote Counts is in favour of increasing annual public allocations to political parties through the IEC.

“The Political Party Funding Act also makes provision for a multi-party democracy fund. This fund allows donations from the public and private entities who are interested solely in donating to better our democracy. The IEC then distributes these funds across all parties represented in parliament.”

Will political parties agree to play by the rules? Or is the ANC just looking to be able to receive money from dodgy people companies expecting something in return?